*3.1. Sociodemographic Characteristics*

A total of 1109 participants completed the survey. The majority of respondents were female (74%, *n* = 824) and married (72%, *n* = 793). About half were under 45 years old, where 26% (*n* = 286) were 26–35 years old and 24% (*n* = 261) were 36–45 years old. Participants were mostly well educated, 65% (*n* = 719) had a bachelor's degree, and 21% (*n* = 233) had a higher degree. About half (47%, *n* = 516) were employed either in the private or government sectors or were entrepreneurs, while about one-third (32%, *n* = 351) were unemployed. Most (91%, *n* = 1013) belonged to families with between three and six members and about two-thirds had children (69%, *n* = 769). Most of the participants were from the Western Region (58%, *n* = 642) and the Central Region (35%, *n* = 391). The participants were more educated than the average population in Saudi Arabia where 23% of the population has a bachelor's degree or were at a respective level [15]. Old people were less represented than in Saudi Arabia where the demographic profile is as follows: 0–14 years: 24.8%, 15–24 years: 15.4%, 25–54 years: 50.2%, 55–64 years: 5.9% and 65 years and over: 3.6% [16].

### *3.2. Sociodemographic Groups and Precautionary Measures*

Most of the participants always covered their mouth when coughing and sneezing (83%) and washed their hands with soap and water (77%) (Table 1). About half always avoided the sharing of utensils, washed their hands immediately after coughing or sneezing, and wore masks. About one-third (31%) of the participants felt that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused too much unnecessary panic while 77% avoided leaving their homes.

**Table 1.** Percentage of participants (*n* = 1109) following different precautionary measures. Response alternatives: 1 = never; 2 = occasionally; 3 = sometimes; 4 = most of the time; 5 = always.


The maximum score for precautionary measures observed was 27 and the minimum was 6. A significant difference (*t*-test, *p* < 0.05) in the scores of males (19.84, SD = 3.91) and females (21.17, SD = 3.82) was found (Table 2). Marital status had no effect, as no significant difference between married and unmarried participants was found. The extent of knowledge of Covid-19 presented an effect, where participants with much knowledge had a significantly higher score (21.08, SD = 3.75) than those with little knowledge (19.40, SD = 4.27). Higher education increased the commitment to precautionary measures. Undergraduate students (20.78, SD = 3.85) and post-graduates (21.36, SD = 3.42) were significantly (ANOVA, LSD, *p* < 0.05) more committed to the precautionary measures than the participants with lower education (high school participants, score 20.25, SD = 4.55). The participants who had felt concerned about the disease for three hours or more (22.18, SD = 3.60) were more likely to respond to precautionary measures than the less concerned ones (less than one hour, score 20.27, SD = 3.8) (Table 2).


**Table 2.** Participants (*n* = 1109) committed (mean, SD) to the precautionary measures in different sociodemographic groups and the *p* value of ANOVA indicating the significant effect of the group.
