Determinants of COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy in Portuguese-Speaking Countries: A Structural Equations Modeling Approach.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (VH) has caused concerns due to the possible fluctuations that may occur directly impacting the control of the pandemic. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with COVID-19 VH in Portuguese-speaking countries. We developed a web survey (N:6,843) using an online, structured, and validated questionnaire. We used Measurement Models, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Exploratory Structural Equation Models, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis for the data analysis. The overall prevalence of COVID-19 VH in Portuguese-speaking countries was 21.1%. showed a statistically significant direct effect for VH: vaccine-related conspiracy beliefs (VB) (ß = 0.886), perceived stress (PS) (ß = 0.313), COVID-19 Misinformation (MIS) (ß = 0.259) and individual responses to COVID-19 (CIR) (ß = -0.122). The effect of MIS and CIR for VH was greater among men and of PS and VB among women; the effect of PS was greater among the youngest and of VB and CIR among the oldest. No discrepant differences were identified in the analyzed education strata. In conclusion, we found that conspiracy beliefs related to the vaccine strongly influence the decision to hesitate (not to take or to delay the vaccine). Specific characteristics related to gender, age group, social and cognitive vulnerabilities, added to the knowledge acquired, poorly substantiated and/or misrepresented about the COVID-19 vaccine, need to be considered in the planning of vaccination campaigns. It is necessary to respond in a timely, fast, and accurate manner to the challenges posed by vaccine hesitancy.

Mixed methods study protocol to explore acculturation, lifestyles and health of immigrants from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries in two Iberian contexts: how to face uncertainties amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: Studies which focus on the process of acculturation in the lifestyles, nutritional status and health of immigrants from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP) in the Iberian Peninsula are still scarce. This study aims to explore the influence of the acculturation process and dietary acculturation on the lifestyle and nutritional and health status of CPLP immigrants in Portugal and Spain, focusing on two Iberian contexts: Lisbon Metropolitan Area and the Basque Country. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A mixed methods sequential explanatory design, combining cross-sectional studies and semistructured interviews. Official data will also be analysed. Primary data will be collected through a questionnaire and assessment of nutritional status and body composition. The estimated samples sizes are 1061 adults (≥18 years old) in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area and 573 in the Basque Country. Time-location sampling will be used for the quantitative component and non-probabilistic sampling for the qualitative component. If safety conditions are not guaranteed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, online studies will be conducted. The semistructured interviews will complement the questionnaire data and extend knowledge about the process of acculturation of CPLP immigrants and their relationship with eating habits and physical activity. Thematic analysis will be used for qualitative data. Triangulation of data derived from different methods will be carried out. An integrative approach will be used to address potential discrepancies in findings and limitations inherent to the study design. As inter-method discrepancies may occur, triangulation protocol will be used, elaborating a 'convergence coding matrix' to display findings emerging from each component of the study. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained through the IHMT Ethics Council (Doc No 20/2020), Portugal, and it was submitted to the Ethics Committee of the UPV/EHU (Doc No under revision), Spain.

Emotions and coping strategies of men to the covid-19 pandemic in brazil

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the emotions and coping strategies of men living in Brazil to the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: a qualitative socio-historical study, carried out with 200 men residing in Brazil. A semi-structured form was applied, made available on an online platform between March and May 2020. The data were analyzed by the Collective Subject Discourse method and sustained in the theoretical reference of Coping. Results: the strategies most used by the men were the following: compliance with preventive measures, strengthening of family/social ties, promotion of psychological well-being, self-care, emotional suppression, externalization of negative feelings, emotional control, positive reassessment, intellectual investment/professional qualification, maintenance of daily routines, adaptation to home office work, physical activity, control of marital conflicts, acceptance, and strengthening of belief and faith. Conclusion: the coping strategies adopted by the men are focused on following a pandemic coping protocol, and on the meaning and channeling of emotion and sense. RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar las emociones y las estrategias de coping en hombres que viven en Brasil frente a la pandemia del Covid-19. Método: estudio socio-histórico y cualitativo, realizado con 200 hombres que viven en Brasil. Se aplicó un formulario semiestructurado, puesto a disposición en una plataforma on-line entre marzo y mayo de 2020. Los datos se analizaron con el método del Discurso del Sujeto Colectivo y se sustentaron en el referencial teórico del Coping. Resultados: las estrategias más utilizadas por los hombres fueron las siguientes: cumplimiento de las medidas de prevención, fortalecimiento del vínculo familiar/social, promoción del bienestar psicológico, autocuidado, supresión emocional, externalización de sentimientos negativos, control emocional, reevaluación positiva, inversión intelectual/calificación profesional, mantenimiento de rutinas diarias, adaptación al trabajo en modalidad home office, práctica de actividad física, control de conflictos conyugales, aceptación y fortalecimiento de las creencias y de la fe. Conclusión: las estrategias de coping adoptadas por los hombres se enfocan en respetar un protocolo de afrontamiento a la pandemia, en la significación y la canalización de la emoción y del sentido. RESUMO Objetivo: analisar as emoções e as estratégias de coping de homens residentes no Brasil à pandemia da Covid-19. Método: estudo sócio-histórico, qualitativo, realizado com 200 homens residentes no Brasil. Realizou-se a aplicação de um formulário semiestruturado, disponibilizado em uma plataforma on-line entre março e maio de 2020. Os dados foram analisados pelo método do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo e sustentados no referencial teórico de Coping. Resultados: as estratégias mais utilizadas pelos homens foram: cumprimento das medidas de prevenção, fortalecimento do vínculo familiar/social, promoção do bem-estar psicológico, autocuidado, supressão emocional, externalização de sentimentos negativos, controle emocional, reavaliação positiva, investimento intelectual/qualificação profissional, manutenção de rotinas diárias, adaptação ao trabalho home office, prática de atividade física, controle de conflitos conjugais, aceitação e fortalecimento da crença e da fé. Conclusão: as estratégias de coping adotadas pelos homens estão focadas no seguimento de um protocolo de enfrentamento à pandemia, na significação e canalização da emoção e do sentido.

Emotions and coping strategies of men to the covid-19 pandemic in brazil

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the emotions and coping strategies of men living in Brazil to the Covid-19 pandemic. Method: a qualitative socio-historical study, carried out with 200 men residing in Brazil. A semi-structured form was applied, made available on an online platform between March and May 2020. The data were analyzed by the Collective Subject Discourse method and sustained in the theoretical reference of Coping. Results: the strategies most used by the men were the following: compliance with preventive measures, strengthening of family/social ties, promotion of psychological well-being, self-care, emotional suppression, externalization of negative feelings, emotional control, positive reassessment, intellectual investment/professional qualification, maintenance of daily routines, adaptation to home office work, physical activity, control of marital conflicts, acceptance, and strengthening of belief and faith. Conclusion: the coping strategies adopted by the men are focused on following a pandemic coping protocol, and on the meaning and channeling of emotion and sense. RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar las emociones y las estrategias de coping en hombres que viven en Brasil frente a la pandemia del Covid-19. Método: estudio socio-histórico y cualitativo, realizado con 200 hombres que viven en Brasil. Se aplicó un formulario semiestructurado, puesto a disposición en una plataforma on-line entre marzo y mayo de 2020. Los datos se analizaron con el método del Discurso del Sujeto Colectivo y se sustentaron en el referencial teórico del Coping. Resultados: las estrategias más utilizadas por los hombres fueron las siguientes: cumplimiento de las medidas de prevención, fortalecimiento del vínculo familiar/social, promoción del bienestar psicológico, autocuidado, supresión emocional, externalización de sentimientos negativos, control emocional, reevaluación positiva, inversión intelectual/calificación profesional, mantenimiento de rutinas diarias, adaptación al trabajo en modalidad home office, práctica de actividad física, control de conflictos conyugales, aceptación y fortalecimiento de las creencias y de la fe. Conclusión: las estrategias de coping adoptadas por los hombres se enfocan en respetar un protocolo de afrontamiento a la pandemia, en la significación y la canalización de la emoción y del sentido. RESUMO Objetivo: analisar as emoções e as estratégias de coping de homens residentes no Brasil à pandemia da Covid-19. Método: estudo sócio-histórico, qualitativo, realizado com 200 homens residentes no Brasil. Realizou-se a aplicação de um formulário semiestruturado, disponibilizado em uma plataforma on-line entre março e maio de 2020. Os dados foram analisados pelo método do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo e sustentados no referencial teórico de Coping. Resultados: as estratégias mais utilizadas pelos homens foram: cumprimento das medidas de prevenção, fortalecimento do vínculo familiar/social, promoção do bem-estar psicológico, autocuidado, supressão emocional, externalização de sentimentos negativos, controle emocional, reavaliação positiva, investimento intelectual/qualificação profissional, manutenção de rotinas diárias, adaptação ao trabalho home office, prática de atividade física, controle de conflitos conjugais, aceitação e fortalecimento da crença e da fé. Conclusão: as estratégias de coping adotadas pelos homens estão focadas no seguimento de um protocolo de enfrentamento à pandemia, na significação e canalização da emoção e do sentido.

The Unlikely Saviour: Portugal's National Health System and the Initial Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic?

What is the impact of COVID-19 on Portugal's Serviço Nacional de Saúde (SNS), the country's national health service? The story, still unfolding, has all the elements of a recipe for disaster: one of the most elderly populations in the world; a weakened SNS, the result of a litany of policies and interventions by the 'Troika' (the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund); a health care delivery system focused on non-communicable diseases and long-term care; the growing public distrust in public services, compared to private, hotel-like health care facilities. We are aware that these are still the early days of the epidemic, yet it is safe to say that algorithmic scenarios of doom and gloom have so far been averted. In the past six months of the pandemic, the level of trust of the Portuguese population in the SNS and its health personnel has significantly improved, while the government has started to provide additional funding and to work for the expansion of the public system. At the very inception of the pandemic, private hospitals practically closed their doors to COVID-19 patients. Unexpectedly a new disease, COVID-19, by definition the foe of any health system, has granted the opportunity for a rare consensus amongst different key political and/or corporate actors in a long-called-for reform of the SNS. Social science and humanities, with their analytical tools and theoretical-conceptual frameworks, are mandatory in providing well-funded answers to such riddles and better grasping the reasons for the twist and turns.