What influences the public’s compliance with protective behaviours during pandemics? An insight into two under-resourced developing countries

Various life-course events may affect public adherence to preventive measures to safeguard individuals from infection. This study examined variations in protective behaviours between two populations in the Middle East with comparable cultural backgrounds, but with one experiencing the additional challenge of residing in a conflict zone. A cross-sectional comparative design was employed to enlist a convenience sample of 1787 participants from Jordan and Palestine. Palestinians exhibited a lower level of fear regarding COVID-19 infection and expressed less intent to get vaccinated. Jordanians scored significantly higher on the Self-care subscale (t(1503.2) = 2.97, p = 0.003), the Protective Behaviours subscale (t(1427.6) = 10.6, p < .001), and the Infection Avoidance Scale (t(1422.15) = 11.11, p < .001) than the Palestinians. Despite the cultural similarities shared by the two nations, our study revealed significant differences in the compliance with protective behaviours against COVID-19 between Jordanian and Palestinian participants. This suggests that socio-economic and political factors play crucial roles in influencing people’s behaviours during pandemics. These concerns extend to other vulnerable nations grappling with poverty and conflict, underscoring the need for collaborative efforts among organizations to ensure a coordinated, stable response and support these countries in their battle against pandemics.