Association between COVID-19 diagnosis and economic class, race/skin color and social distancing in Brazilian university students

Silva Júnior, André Eduardo da; Macena, Mateus de Lima; Pureza, Isabele Rejane de Oliveira Maranhão; Oliveira, Ana Debora Santos de; Praxedes, Dafiny Rodrigues Silva; Florêncio, Telma Maria Toledo de Menezes; Clemente, Ana Paula Grotti; Bueno, Nassib Bezerra

ABSTRACT:

Purpose: To determine the association between diagnosis of COVID-19 and the economic class, race/skin color, and adherence to social distancing in Brazilian university students.

Methods:

This is a nationwide cross-sectional study carried out with online questionnaires applied to Brazilian university students, at 94 universities in the public and private education network. Self-reported age, sex, economic class data, race/skin color, COVID-19 diagnosis, and adherence to social distancing measures were collected.

Results:

5,984 individuals were evaluated. No significant association was found between the diagnosis of COVID-19 and economic class and race/skin color in the multivariable analysis. However, we observed that there were significant associations between the diagnosis of COVID-19 and partial adherence to social distancing, with leaving home only for going to work (PR: 1.35; 95% CI: 1.10–1.66; p < 0.01) and with non-adherence to social distancing (PR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.29–2.97; p <0.01).

Conclusion:

The diagnosis of COVID-19 was associated with age, non-adherence and partial adherence to social distancing measures in Brazilian university students, but was not associated with race/skin color and economic class.

Objetivo:

Verificar a associação entre o diagnóstico de COVID-19 e a classe econômica, raça/cor da pele e adesão às medidas ao distanciamento social em universitários brasileiros.

Métodos:

Estudo transversal, de abrangência nacional, realizado com universitários brasileiros. Foram coletados dados autorreferidos de idade, sexo, classe econômica, raça/cor, diagnóstico do COVID-19 e adesão às medidas de distanciamento social.

Resultados:

5.984 indivíduos foram avaliados. Não foi encontrada associação significativa entre o diagnóstico de COVID-19, a classe econômica e raça/cor na análise multivariável. Observamos que houve associações significativas entre o diagnóstico de COVID-19 e adesão parcial ao distanciamento social (RP: 1,35; IC 95%: 1.10–1.66; p < 0,01) e com a não adesão ao distanciamento social (RP: 1,96; IC95%: 1.29–2.97; p < 0,01).

Conclusão:

O diagnóstico de COVID-19 foi associado à idade, não adesão e adesão parcial às medidas de distanciamento social em universitários brasileiros, mas não se associou à raça/cor e classe econômica. (AU)