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

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. © 2021 Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirao Preto - U.S.P.. All rights reserved.