OCCUPATION AND HEALTH ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (19): 2660-2665.

• Treatise——Epidemiology and Preventive Health Care • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Research on the risk perception and coping behaviors of public health emergency among rural residents in Shaanxi Province

XIAO Sitong, SHI Mengrui, ZHAI Yixin, SUN Yenan, ZHANG Yan, ZHANG Zhigang()   

  1. Shaanxi University of Chinese MedicineXianyangShaanxi 712046, China
  • Received:2025-10-21 Revised:2025-11-10 Online:2026-10-01 Published:2026-08-17
  • Contact: ZHANG Zhigang,E-mail:lzuzzg@163.com

Abstract:

Objective To understand the risk perception level,coping behaviors and influencing factors of public health emergency among rural residents in Shaanxi Province,and to provide a theoretical basis for the emergency management of public health emergency in rural areas. Methods From July to September 2024,rural residents aged 15 to 74 from 41 counties(districts) across 9 cities in Shaanxi Province were selected as research objects using stratified random sampling method. A questionnaire on risk perception and coping behaviors toward public health emergency was developed,field investigations were conducted,descriptive analysis and inferential comparisons were performed. Results The proportion of rural residents in Shaanxi Province with a relatively high level of risk perception regarding public health emergency was 43.31%,with statistically significant differences across regions,age groups,and length of annual residence in the village within a year(χ2=37.629,33.793,9.411,all P<0.05). The equalization scores of risk perception for disease severity,disease controllability,severity of health impact and possibility of infection were 0.68,0.72,0.80 and 0.83,respectively. Radar charts indicated that villagers had a better understanding of infection possibility,while a poorer understanding of disease severity and disease controllability. A total of 62.38% of villagers had received relevant publicity and education on public health emergency,and their risk perception level(45.00%) was significantly higher than that of those who had not(40.52%)(χ2=6.251,P<0.05). Residing in the Guanzhong and Southern Shaanxi regions were risk factors for villagers' risk perception levels,while being aged ≥30 years,residing in the village ≥10 months per year,having a family member with a bachelor's degree or higher,and having school-aged children were protective factors(all P<0.05). The top three channels through which villagers obtained information on public health emergency were government or village committee notifications(38.32%),short videos such as those on douyin(22.90%),and television/radio broadcasts(19.04%). Additionally,87.02% of villagers considered the authenticity of information,and 76.12% continuously followed updates on ongoing events. In the event of a public health emergency,94.37% of villagers would follow arrangements made by the village committee or government,and 93.30% were willing to provide assistance within their capacity. Conclusion The risk perception level of rural residents in Shaanxi Province regarding public health emergency needs improvement,while their coping behaviors are relatively satisfactory. Targeted efforts should focus on residents in the Guanzhong and Southern Shaanxi regions,those aged <30,and those with lower education levels,emphasizing education on the severity and controllability of public health emergency to enhance risk perception and reinforce coping behaviors.

Key words: Rural residents, Public health emergency, Risk perception, Coping behaviors, Influencing factors

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