en Epidemiology Original Article <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:12px;"><span style="line-height:250%"><b><span style="line-height:250%"><span style="color:black">Background:</span></span></b><span style="line-height:250%"><span style="color:black"> The World Health Organization (WHO) called for taking preventive measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Preventive behaviors are required when the risk is perceived. The present study aimed to investigate individuals&rsquo; preventative behaviors towards understanding and worrying about COVID-19 in the Iranian society.</span></span></span><br> <span style="line-height:250%"><b><span style="line-height:250%"><span style="color:black">Materials and Methods:</span></span></b><span style="line-height:250%"><span style="color:black"> This descriptive study was conducted on 342 respondents in the spring of 2021 using the convenience sampling method. The data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire consisting of three sections of demographic questions about awareness and basic issues. Descriptive statistical methods were used to analyze the data. In addition, the chi-square test and the Spearman&rsquo;s correlation coefficient were used to examine the association between questions and demographic variables.</span></span><br> <span style="line-height:250%"><b><span style="color:black">Results:</span></b><span style="color:black"> The findings showed that 209 (61.1%) respondents wore masks outdoors at a very high level. Only 40 (11.7%) respondents observed social distance requirements (at least more than 1.5 meters) at a very low level. Besides, 309 (90.4%) respondents washed their hands properly thoroughly at moderate to very high levels.</span></span></span><br> <span style="line-height:250%"><b><span style="line-height:250%"><span style="color:black">Conclusions:</span></span></b><span style="line-height:250%"><span style="color:black"> COVID-19 Preventive behaviors among respondents was associated to their perception of and concerns over COVID-19 contraction, raising their awareness of the disease as well as promoting concerns over it in the society.&nbsp;</span></span><span style="line-height:250%"></span></span></span></span></div> COVID-19,Pandemic,Prevention,Iran, 10 22 http://johe.rums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-425-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Zahra Ghalichi Zaveh zahraghalichi@yahoo.com 22400319475328460011246 22400319475328460011246 No MSc in Occupational Health Engineering, Health Sciences Research Center, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran. Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences Somayeh Barzanouni sepino598@gmail.com 22400319475328460011247 22400319475328460011247 Yes MSc in Biostatistics, Vice Chancellery of Education and Research, Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran. Elham Akhlaghi Pirposhteh habibkavari@gmail.com 22400319475328460011248 22400319475328460011248 No MSc in Occupational Health Engineering, Dept. of Occupational Health Engineering, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. Tarbiat Modares University Amin Babaei Pouya * aminpouyababa@gmail.com 22400319475328460011249 22400319475328460011249 No Lecturer, Dept. of Occupational Health, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran. , aminpouyababa@gmail.com Ardabil University of Medical Sciences Mahsa Hami karchany@yahoo.com 22400319475328460011250 22400319475328460011250 No MSc in Economics, Health Management and Economics Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. Iran University of Medical Sciences