Services on Demand
Journal
Article
Indicators
Cited by SciELO
Access statistics
Related links
Cited by Google
Similars in SciELO
Similars in Google
Share
Revista de la Universidad Industrial de Santander. Salud
Print version ISSN 0121-0807On-line version ISSN 2145-8464
Abstract
CANO-GOMEZ, Luis C.; CASTILLO-TEJADA, René D. and MENA-ORDONEZ, Sissy S.. Risk perception, self-medication, myths, and beliefs related with COVID-19 among Peruvian head of households. Rev. Univ. Ind. Santander. Salud [online]. 2022, vol.54, e331. Epub Oct 21, 2022. ISSN 0121-0807. https://doi.org/10.18273/saluduis.54.e:22003.
Introduction:
More than a year after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of infections and deaths is still beyond the control of hospital management. In addition to fear, myths, beliefs, self-medication and inadequate risk perception in the population have increased.
Objective:
To identify the perception of risk, self-medication, myths and prevention beliefs regarding COVID-19 in adult heads of household in the Gregorio Albarracin district of Tacna in 2020.
Method:
A survey was administered to a representative sample of 250 heads of household residing in the Gregorio Albarracin district.
Results:
The total average of the group in risk perception expressed as a percentage was 60.96% (59.81-62.11) out of a total expected ideal of 100%. The perception of "being at risk in the pandemic" is low. Only 15.20% adhered to strict home isolation when instructed to do so. The 14.8% self-medicated and in this group, the products used were ivermectin (48.6%) and chlorine dioxide (45.9%). The most frequent myths and beliefs were "spraying with alcohol or chlorine kills the virus" "home remedies can cure or prevent coronavirus"; there were differences according to age (p<0.05) and educational level (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
self-medication was strongly associated with high-risk perception (p<0.001) and presence of myths and beliefs (p<0.001). Educational level was highly associated with the presence of myths and beliefs (p<0.001).
Keywords : Coronavirus; COVID-19; Self-Medication; Perception; Myths and beliefs.