M. Changizi - Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
B. Cheraghiyan - “Hearing Research Center” and “Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health”, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
H. Mohamadian - Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
S. Ghorbani Kalkhajeh - Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
F. Maghsoudi - Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
Sh. Salmanzadeh - Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran

Aims: The World Health Organization recommends preventive behaviors despite the approval of several vaccines to control COVID-۱۹. Mass media and digital technologies also play an important role in addressing public health issues. This study aimed to investigate the protection motivation theory constructs by COVID-related information channels on protective behaviors against COVID-۱۹ in southwestern Iran. Instrument & Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study from July to August ۲۰۲۱, ۲۵۵ patients referred to urban health centers were included by simple random sampling. Data were analyzed by SPSS ۲۴ software using correlation and regression tests. Findings: ۳۲.۲% of the participants received COVID-۱۹ information through radio, TV, and satellite, and ۳۰.۶% through WhatsApp and Telegram social networks. Awareness predicted ۱۱% of protective behavior (p<۰.۰۰۱; R=۰.۱۱۸; β=۰.۳۴۳). Protective motivation (behavioral intention) predicted ۴۹.۵% of behavior (p<۰.۰۰۱; R=۰.۴۹۵; R۲=۰.۴۸۷). Conclusion: Using protection motivation theory by information channels facilitates preventive behavior against COVID-۱۹.

Motivation, COVID-۱۹, Health Behavior, Information Sources, Intention, Fear