Preparedness and Preventive Behaviors for a Pandemic Disaster Caused by COVID-19 in Serbia

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, the capital of China's Hubei province, and has since spread globally, especially to Europe and North America, resulting in the ongoing 2019–20 global coronavirus pandemic disaster. While the majority of cases result in mild symptoms, some progress to viral pneumonia and multi-organ failure and death. As of 19 April 2020, more than 2.35 million cases have been reported across 185 countries and territories, resulting in more than 162,000 deaths. Risk to communities with ongoing sustained widespread disease transmission depends on characteristics of the virus, including how well it spreads between people; the severity of resulting illness; and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccines or medications that can treat the illness) and the relative success of these. In the absence of vaccine or treatment medications, non-pharmaceutical interventions become the most important response strategy based on community interventions such as person-to-person distancing, mask-wearing, isolation and good personal hygiene (hand-washing) -- all of which have been demonstrated can reduce the impact of this seemingly unstoppable globally spreading natural disaster. This paper presents the results of quantitative research regarding the level of citizen preparedness for disasters caused by coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Serbia. The survey was conducted using a questionnaire that was given and then collected online among 975 respondents during disaster in March-April 2020. The questionnaire explored citizens’ basic socio-economic and demographic characteristics, their knowledge, preparedness, risk perception and preventive measures taking individually and as a community to prevent the deadly and widespread transmission of Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 in the Republic of Serbia. Based on findings that there are major differences in the public's perception of risks presented by communicable disease threats such as presented by COVID-19, emergency management agencies should use these differences to develop focused strategies to enhance community and national preparedness through the promotion of behavioral change and the improvement of risk management decision-making regarding pandemic disasters.

Cvetković, V., Nikolić, N., Nenadić, R. U., Ocal, A., & Zečević, M. (2020). Preparedness and Preventive Behaviors for a Pandemic Disaster Caused by COVID-19 in Serbia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, In press. 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/341867412_Preparedness_and_Preventive_Behaviors_for_a_Pandemic_Disaster_Caused_by_COVID-19_in_Serbia

Household earthquake preparedness in Serbia – a study from selected municipalities

This article presents the results of a qualitative study of household earthquake and community-level preparedness in Serbia and its relationship to various demographic factors. A series of 1,018 face-to-face interviews were conducted at the beginning of 2017 in eight Serbian municipalities. The results show that the population is generally unprepared, with low percentages of reported enhanced preparedness levels. In addition to presenting its findings, the study also considers future research directions, including using this study as a basis for more detailed research and to assist in facilitating community-led programs and strategies to increase earthquake safety. KEYWORDS: geography, natural hazards, earthquake, preparedness, household, survey, Serbia 

Pripravljenost gospodinjstev na potrese v Srbiji: Študija izbranih občin IZVLEČEK: V članku so predstavljeni rezultati kvalitativne študije pripravljenosti na potres v gospodinjstvih in na občinski ravni v Srbiji in njeni povezanosti različnimi demografskimi dejavniki. Članek temelji na 1018 intervjujih, ki so bili izvedeni na začetku leta 2017 v osmih srbskih občinah. Rezultati kažejo, da je prebivalstvo na splošno nepripravljeno, z nizkim deležem izboljšane ravni pripravljenosti. Poleg lastnih ugotovitev študija obravnava tudi prihodnje smeri raziskovanja, vključno z uporabo te študije kot temelja za podrobnejše raziskave in za pomoč pri programih, ki jih vodijo skupnosti, ter strategij za povečanje potresne varnosti. KLJUČNE BESEDE: geografija, naravne nesreče, potres, pripravljenost, gospodinjstvo, raziskovanje, Srbija.


Cvetković, V., Kevin, R., Shaw, R., Filipović, M., Mano, R., Gačić, J., & Jakovljević, V. (2019). Household earthquake preparedness in Serbia – a study from selected municipalities. Acta Geographica, 59(1). 

Link rada

Household earthquake preparedness in Serbia: a study from selected municipalities

The paper presents the results of a qualitative research regarding the household earthquake and community-level preparedness in Serbia and its relationship with various demographic factors. A series of 1,018 face–to–face interviews were conducted at the beginning of 2017 in 8 Serbian municipalities. The results show generally unprepared population and lower percentages of reported enhanced preparedness levels. In addition to presenting findings, the study also considers future research directions, including using this study as a baseline for more in-depth examination and to assist in facilitating community-led programs and strategies in order to raise the level of security of citizens during earthquakes.

Figure 1: Study areas location with earthquake risk zones in Serbia and number of respondents.

For citations: Cvetković, V., Kevin, R., Shaw, R., Filipović, M., Mano, R., Gačić, J., & Jakovljević, V. (2018). Household earthquake preparedness in Serbia – a study from selected municipalities. Acta Geographica, In press. 

Public Risk Perspectives Regarding the Threat of Terrorism in Belgrade: Implications for Risk Management Decision-Making for Individuals, Communities and Public Authorities

Public Risk Perspectives Regarding the Threat of Terrorism in Belgrade: Implications for Risk Management Decision-Making for Individuals, Communities and Public Authorities

Vladimir M. Cvetković, Eric K. Noji, Marina Filipović, Marija Popović Mančević, Želimir Kešetović, Nenad Radović

Bearing in mind a long history of terrorist threats in Serbia, the aim of this paper is to determine the perceived risk of terrorist attacks and level of individual, communities and public authorities preparedness in Belgrade. The structured questionnaire about perceived risk of terrorist attacks and preparedness was developed using close-ended, multiple choice questions and 5-point Likert scales questions. This was coupled with a purpose-designed questionnaire related to demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the interviewees and their perception of the likelihood of terrorist attacks, preparedness and security, potential consequences, execution methods and place of the terrorist attacks. At different times of day, between June and September 2017, data were collected by means of a telephone survey using a random digit dialing procedure; 485 adult Serbian residents participated in the research with informed consent obtained from all respondents. Overall, the participants’ responses indicated a low level of likelihood of terrorist attacks taking place with a moderate perceived preparedness being in place. This was accompanied with the results of demographic and socioeconomic differences in terrorism risk perception. Based on findings that there are major differences in the public's perception of risks presented by terrorism threats, emergency management agencies should use these differences to enhance preparedness through the promotion of behavioral change and the improvement of risk management decision-making.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/327136875_Public_Risk_Perspectives_Regarding_the_Threat_of_Terrorism_in_Belgrade_Implications_for_Risk_Management_Decision-Making_for_Individuals_Communities_and_Public_Authorities

Keywords: terrorism, risk perception, threat, preparedness, decision-making, Belgrade.

Cvetković, V., Noji, E., Filipović, M., Marija, M. P., Želimir, K., & Nenad, R. (2018). Public Risk Perspectives Regarding the Threat of Terrorism in Belgrade: Implications for Risk Management Decision-Making for Individuals, Communities and Public Authorities. Journal of Criminal Investigation and Criminology/(4).