Self-Perceived Stress During the Quarantine of COVID-19 Pandemic in Paraguay: An Exploratory Survey.

Introduction: Any viral pandemic is a global health and mental health issue. The World Health Organization and mental health associations have warned that the current COVID-19 pandemic will lead to a drastic increase of stress-related conditions and mental health issues globally. Materials and Methods: An online web-based survey has been launched from 10 to 15 April 2020 in Paraguay in order to collect information regarding the stress related to the quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been spread through social media ("WhatsApp," "Twitter," and "Facebook"). Two thousand two hundred and six Paraguayan citizens, over 18 years of age, completed the survey voluntarily. Socio-demographics as well as ratings at Self-perceived Stress Scale have been collected and analyzed. Results: Two thousand two hundred and six subjects (74.12% men) aged between 18 and 75 with an average of 34 ± 11 years old completed the survey. 12.42% (276 subjects) of sample reported a preexisting diagnosis of mental disorder, and 175 participants (7.93%) reported an increase of preexisting symptoms with the onset of COVID-19 quarantine. 41.97% of them had anxiety and 54.38% did not receive any specific treatment. The general population rated 18.10 ± 5.99 at Self-perceived Stress Scale, which indicates a moderate level of self-perceived stress. Significant association was found between higher levels of stress and female sex, being single, or reporting preexisting mental disorder, above all anxiety and depression (p < 0.01). In fact, in 63.87% of mentally ill subjects (n = 175), the quarantine has worsened symptoms of preexisting mental disorders. Conclusion: This study suggests a stressful impact of COVID-19 pandemic, with the majority of participants reporting a moderate level of self-perceived stress. We suggest mental health services to provide a phone-based or web-based support to the general population in order to contrast the psychological impact of the pandemic. This approach may improve the accessibility to mental healthcare services in Paraguay, especially in times of social distancing.

"Coronaphobia" in Paraguay: Spanish Validation of the COVID-19 Phobia Scale.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 is a highly transmissible disease caused by a new zoonotic coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2 that has led to several health, social, and economic issues worldwide. Anxiety and stress are predominant symptoms in the population during the quarantine; also, levels of fear or phobia have been reported. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study validate the Spanish version of the COVID-19 Phobia Scale (C19P-S). Participants were recruited using an Internet-based survey. The survey was open from July 20 to July 31, 2021 and 1079 subjects were included. RESULTS: Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin test was adequate (KMO=0.956) and sphericity tested significantly (p<0.0001). The model of adjustment was good as shown by fit indices (S-B χ2=351.67, df=164, p>0.05; RMSEA=0.033; SRMSR=0.042; CFI=0.995, NFI=0.990). CONCLUSIONS: This confirms that the model of the Spanish version of the C19P-S may reproduce the same four-factors model from the original version of the scale and all items of these factors reported standardized loadings higher than 0.40 (p<0.001).

COVID-19 infodemic and depressive symptoms: The impact of the exposure to news about COVID-19 on the general Paraguayan population.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase of social stressors and mental health issues in the general population as well as among mentally ill patients. A COVID-19- related "infodemic", including too much information in digital and physical environments, has been recognized globally. AIM: This study aimed to describe the impact of COVID-19 infodemic (exposure to news related to COVID-19) in terms of depressive symptoms in the Paraguayan general population. METHODS: This was a descriptive and cross-sectional study. An online survey, designed in Google Forms, has been launched nationwide through the most popular social networks (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) and messaging applications (WhatsApp, Telegram) in April (1st-30th) 2021. The Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) was employed for detecting depressive symptoms. RESULTS: The survey included 1102 responders aged 35.4 ± 12.9 years old, 74.9% were women. MHI-5 mean score was 44.07 ± 14.16 in the general population with 34.4% (n = 379) of responders suffering from severe symptoms of depression (>52, as cut-off point). 53.5% of sample reported to have been exposed between 1 and 3 h to COVID-19 news, daily. An OR 1.933 (95% CI 1.48 - 2.52) was found between the exposure to news and depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that people exposed to a higher number of hours of COVID-19 news were 93.3% more likely to develop depressive symptoms.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices towards COVID-19 in Paraguayans During the Outbreak Period: A Quick Online Survey / Conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas hacia COVID-19 en paraguayos el periodo de brote: una encuesta rápida en línea

Introducción: La rápida expansión del COVID-19 hizo que la OMS la declarara una emergencia sanitaria de preocupación internacional, basándose en el impacto que el virus podría tener en países subdesarrollados con menos infraestructuras sanitarias, y Paraguay no ha sido la excepción, puesto que, para prevenir la expansión del virus, los gobiernos han impuesto restricciones de viajes, cuarentenas, confinamientos, aislamiento social, cancelación de eventos, y cierre de establecimientos. Objetivo: Determinar los conocimientos, actitudes y prácticas de los paraguayos en el período del brote de COVID-19 Métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal a partir del 20 de marzo de 2020, la semana inmediatamente posterior al cierre de Paraguay. La encuesta se realizó en línea utilizando un formulario de Google Forms (c) distribuido a través de grupos de "WhatsApp". A los nacionales paraguayos, mayores de 18 años, se les explicó los objetivos y propósito del estudio, a quienes aceptaron participar en el estudio, se les solicitó completar el cuestionario haciendo clic en el enlace (https://forms.gle/P6X81SYRMYs1G2Gw6). Resultados: Un total de 3141 participantes completaron el cuestionario de la encuesta. La edad media fue de 29,55 años (DE: 10,7), 2139 (68,10%) eran mujeres y 2073 (66) eran del Interior. La puntuación media de conocimientos de COVID-19 fue de 7,45 (DE: 1,51), lo que sugiere una tasa general correcta del 62% (7,45 / 12 * 100) en esta prueba de conocimientos. La mayoría de los encuestados coincidió en que COVID-19 finalmente se controlará con éxito (66,28%), la gran mayoría de los participantes no había visitado ningún lugar concurrido (88,35%) y llevaba máscaras al salir (74,31%) en los últimos días. Conclusión: El conocimiento sobre COVID-19 en la población paraguaya durante el brote fue aceptable, las actitudes han sido en su mayoría favorables y las prácticas en su mayoría adecuadas, sin embargo, es necesario implementar campañas masivas de educación, para incrementar la proporción de conocimiento sobre COVID- 19, para detener su propagación.

Introduction: The rapid expansion of COVID-19 caused the WHO to declare it a health emergency of international concern, based on the impact that the virus could have in underdeveloped countries with less health infrastructure, and Paraguay has not been the exception, since, To prevent the spread of the virus, governments have imposed travel restrictions, quarantines, lockdowns, social isolation, cancellation of events, and closure of establishments. Objective: To determine the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Paraguayans in the period of the COVID-19 outbreak Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out from March 20, 2020, the week immediately after the closure of Paraguay. The survey was online using a Google Forms (c) form distributed through "WhatsApp" groups. Paraguayan nationals, over 18 years of age, who were explained the objectives and purpose of the study, who agreed to participate in the study, were asked to complete the questionnaire by clicking on the link (https://forms.gle/P6X81SYRMYs1G2Gw6).. Results: A total of 3141 participants completed the survey questionnaire. The mean age was 29.55 years (SD: 10.7), 2139 (68.10%) were women, and 2073 (66) were Interior. The mean COVID-19 knowledge score was 7.45 (SD: 1.51), suggesting an overall 62% (7.45/12*100) correct rate on this knowledge test. The majority of the respondents agreed that COVID-19 will finally be successfully controlled (66.28%), the vast majority of the participants had not visited any crowded place (88.35%) and wore masks when going out (74.31%) in recent days Conclusion: The knowledge about COVID-19 in the Paraguayan population during the outbreak was acceptable, attitudes have been mostly favorable and the practices are mostly adequate, however, it is necessary to implement massive education campaigns, to increase the proportion of knowledge about COVID-19, to stop its spread.