Compliance with COVID-19 Mitigation Measures During COVID-19 Pandemic in Malaysia

The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the implementation of various public health measures to mitigate the spread of the virus in Malaysia. This study is motivated by the urgent need to understand the factors influencing public compliance with these measures, as compliance is critical to controlling the spread of the virus and protecting public health. A cross-sectional survey was conducted, and data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify significant predictors of compliance. Our findings indicate that gender, ethnicity, age, and educational attainment significantly influence adherence to SOPs, with females, Chinese participants, older adults, and those with higher education levels showing higher compliance rates. Additionally, moral alignment, social norms, ability to comply, obligation to obey, and perceived legitimacy of authorities were significant predictors of adherence. The potential contribution of this study lies in its ability to inform public health strategies with targeted interventions that address specific demographic and psychosocial factors, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Future research should focus on the long-term impacts of these factors and the effectiveness of targeted interventions to sustain public adherence to health guidelines. These insights are crucial for enhancing the effectiveness of public health strategies in managing current and future public health challenges.