Abstract:
This study aims to investigate public perception of covid-19 sufferers, their families,
and the corpse of the victims in Riau Province. Method: The study used a descriptive research
design. There were 398 research sample aged 17 years old above who were living in Riau. They
were recruited using a purposive sampling technique. A questionnaire was used to collect data in
which its validity and reliability were initially tested. Data were analyzed using univariate
analysis. Result: Most of the respondents–as many as 205 people (51.5%)–were late adolescents;
the majority of them was female, accounted for 296 people (74.4%); 49.5% of the respondents
were in high school or equivalent (197 people) where 171 of them (43%) was student. The
respondents were mostly Muslims (370 people). 50% of the respondents have positive perceptions
and the other half have negative view. Most of the respondents had positive perceptions of the
families of covid-19 sufferers (58.3%) and the corpse of covid-19 victims (61.8%). Conclusion:
The society had a negative perception of covid-19 sufferers, their families, and the corpse of the
victims. Thus, the society needs to be educated so that they will have a positive perception of
covid-19 sufferers, families, and the corpse by continuing to carry out the covid-19 prevention
protocol.
