RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERCEPTED SUSCEPTIBILITY TO COVID-19 AND ADOPTION OF PROTECTIVE BEHAVIORS: A NATIONWIDE ANALYSIS

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has imposed many behavioral changes on society. For a long time, non-pharmacological interventions were the only form of protection and are still relevant for several diseases. Adherence to protective behaviors depends on factors such as risk perception and susceptibility, whose association still needs to be investigated. Objectives: To analyze the relationship between the perception of susceptibility to COVID-19 and the adoption of protective measures. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted through an online survey with 2,413 individuals, from all regions of Brazil, aged between 18 and 60 years, between February and March 2021. Data were collected regarding perceived susceptibility to the disease, behaviors related to COVID-19, and sociodemographic variables present in the questionnaire. The variables were described by absolute and relative frequency distribution, and the association was analyzed by crude and adjusted binary logistic regression for possible confounding variables. Results: All those who fully answered the proposed questions participated in the study. Most participants reported extreme concern about the possibility of infection for themselves or family members. Only one-third of the sample stated that they adhered to all the proposed behaviors. The adoption of protective measures was greater among individuals with extreme concern about contracting the disease. On the other hand, among those who perceived a very high possibility of contracting COVID-19, a lower chance of adopting all the measures was observed. Conclusions: The perception of susceptibility is a factor positively associated with the adoption of protective behaviors against COVID-19 and can be used as a key in the development of public policies to combat future health crises.