Assess Self-Efficacy of Individuals for Personal Protection in Ghana.

In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the self-efficacy of individuals for personal protective measures against the crime of robbery, kidnapping, defilement and rape to estimate the awareness-preparedness gap of the population as contribution to overall security and safety in Ghana. We relied on the Protection Motivation Theory (PMT). The intersection between social systems and technological interactions toward crime suppression and mitigation was analyzed using the Adaptive Structuration Theory (AST). The State as the "Referent Object" and the sole provider of security for itself and citizens was discussed from the lens of securitization theory in relation to the four crime types. Data were collected in 16 administrative districts in Ghana between 2021 and 2022. The sample size was N = 1 0 0 0. The test results showed that there was a statistically significant difference (Chi square = 3 2 3. 9 4 8 , 67.604, 240.161, and 274.646; p = 0. 0 1 0 , 0.000, 0.000, and 0.001, z = 2 , 2, 2, and 2) among the three categories of participants' responses (not at all, somewhat worried, and highly worried) to the question "how worried are you about (kidnapping, armed robberies, defilement, and rape) in your daily life". Although there was awareness of State and citizens about these four crimes, there was also the lack of credible intervention and mitigation strategies. This paper is unique in integrating these theories in assessing the self-efficacy of individuals' ontological security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]