Sociodemographic influence on adherence to social isolation and the use of masks during the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil

Abstract

Introduction and goals: At the end of 2019, authorities reported people with pneumonia without apparent reason. This way, the agent identified a new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), demonstrating that a great solution would be social isolation and the use of surgical masks. This research has the objective to identify the socio-demographic influence in joining the measures to prevent the spread of the virus and contain the pandemic of COVID-19.

Methods: Transversal and quantitative research was done through an online platform, gathering information through instant messages and two questionnaires completed by 291 participants. The first questionnaire contained sociodemographic questions and the second referred to possible reasons that affect the acceptance of mandates to prevent the virus. A descriptive analysis was made afterward, using Minitab 16 and Bioestat 5.0 to analyze chi-squared and G tests, and the importance level of 0.05 and more than 1.96 as a residue to calculate was considered.

Results: A sample of 291 participants, which contained more females than males (67.9%), people between 18 and 25 years old (31.4%), people that finished high school (47.1%), the population of Southeast (93.5%) and people that work in the third sector (47.2%). When related to the use of masks, there was a significant variance in groups of risk, age, economic sector, and incomplete high school.

Conclusion: The research showed a great number of people isolating themselves. Most of them were more than 60 years old, people who had between 6 to 10 rooms at home, professionals from the third sector, and people who got informed by the media. Regarding the use of the masks, the greatest participants were people who finished high school, groups at risk, and people who trusted the masks’ efficiency. This way, it was possible to realize the importance of involving the population to combat the pandemic.