Factors associated with the consumption of chlorine dioxide to prevent and treat COVID-19 in the Peruvian population: a cross-sectional study.
BMC Public Health
; 21(1): 2109, 2021 11 17.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1523299
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Chlorine dioxide has been promoted as an alternative for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, especially in Peru, despite the lack of evidence to support its efficacy. This study aimed to evaluate the factors associated with chlorine dioxide consumption in the Peruvian population.METHODS:
Analytical cross-sectional study. An adult Peruvian population was evaluated where chlorine dioxide consumption was divided into two groups according to the purpose of use as prevention (individuals without COVID-19 history) and as treatment (individuals with COVID-19 history). The associated factors in each group were evaluated using Poisson regressions with the bootstrapping resampling method.RESULTS:
Of 3610 participants included, 3213 reported no history of COVID-19, and 397 had been infected. The prevalence of chlorine dioxide consumption to prevent or treat COVID-19 was 8 and 16%, respectively. Factors either positively or negatively associated with chlorine dioxide consumption for prevention were male sex (aPR 1.36; 95% CI 1.09-1.71), being an adult or older adult (aPR 0.54; 95% CI 0.35-0.82), having a health sciences student within the family unit (aPR 1.38; 95% CI 1.02-1.87), using medical information as the main source of information of COVID-19 (aPR 0.57; 95% CI 0.40-0.80), having comorbidities for COVID-19 (aPR 1.36; 95% CI 1.01-1.82), considering COVID-19 dangerous and deadly (aPR 0.57; 95% CI 0.45-0.74), using medications (aPR 1.59; 95% CI 1.25-2.06) and plants to prevent COVID-19 (aPR 1.69; 95% CI 1.21-2.36), considering chlorine dioxide ineffective (aPR 0.18; 95% CI 0.18-0.24), and being uninformed of its efficacy (aPR 0.21; 95% CI 0.16-0.28). In addition, factors associated with chlorine dioxide consumption for treatment were considering COVID-19 dangerous and deadly (aPR 0.56; 95% CI 0.33-0.96), considering chlorine dioxide ineffective (aPR 0.22; 95% CI 0.12-0.42), and being uninformed of its efficacy (aPR 0.15; 95% CI 0.07-0.32).CONCLUSIONS:
The prevalence of chlorine dioxide consumption to treat COVID-19 was higher than prevent. It is important to apply information strategies, prioritizing population groups with certain characteristics that are associated with a higher consumption pattern.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Aged
/
Humans
/
Male
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Peru
Language:
English
Journal:
BMC Public Health
Journal subject:
Public Health
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S12889-021-12191-9
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