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This study applied the information-motivation-behavioral (IMB) skills model of pandemic risk and prevention to explore the pathways through which COVID-19 information, personal and social motivation, and behavioral skills influenced the uptake of prevention behaviors in three informal settlements in Ghana. A survey of 496 participants was conducted and analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). Findings reveal a significant knowledge gap, with only 30.6% of participants answering all COVID-19 information questions accurately. Both personal (\n                    <jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u20090.209,\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u20090.005) and social motivation (\n                    <jats:italic>\u03b2<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u20090.178,\n                    <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                    \u2009=\u20090.018) exhibited a direct significant relationship with preventive behaviors. While no direct effect was found between information and prevention behavior, behavioral skills fully mediated this relationship. Though focused on COVID-19, the findings have broader implications for strengthening pandemic\/epidemic preparedness in informal settlements. Policy interventions should prioritize tailored health risk communication, motivation enhancement, and practical skills-building to empower vulnerable populations not just for current needs but to effectively respond to future health crises.\n                  <\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s11524-026-01106-x","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]],"date-time":"2026-07-01T18:09:57Z","timestamp":1782929397000},"page":"711-724","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Beyond COVID-19: Behavioral Drivers of Pandemic Prevention in Ghana\u2019s Informal Urban Settlements"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"103","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0001-9697-834X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Richmond","family":"Amponsah","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7172-0465","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Marie Vaganay","family":"Miller","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3428-9928","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aaron","family":"Lawson","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1788-7539","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Nigel","family":"McConnell","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,1]]},"reference":[{"key":"1106_CR1","unstructured":"WHO. 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