Social distancing, use of face masks and hand washing among participants in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging: the ELSI-COVID-19 initiative

The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of social distancing, the use of face masks and hand washing when leaving home among Brazilian adults aged 50 or over. Data from 6,149 telephone interviews were used, conducted between May 26 and June 8, 2020 among participants in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSI-Brazil). Social distancing was defined by not having left home in the last seven days. Only 32.8% of study participants did not leave home during the period considered, 36.3% left between one and two times, 15.2% between three and five times and 15.7% left every day. The main reasons for leaving home were to buy medicine or food (74.2%), to work (25.1%), to pay bills (24.5%), for health care (10.5%), to exercise (6.2%), and to meet family or friends (8.8%). Among those who left home, 97.3% always wore face masks and 97.3% always performed hand washing. Women left home less often than men. Men left home more often to work and exercise while women left home more often to seek healthcare. Men (odds ratio - OR = 1.84), those with higher education (OR = 1.48 and 1.95 for 5-8 and 9 years, respectively) and urban residents (OR = 1.54) left home more frequently to perform essential activities, regardless of age or other characteristics. Results show low adherence to social distancing, but high prevalence in the reported use of face masks and hand washing.

本研究旨在考察巴西50岁及以上成年人群离家时的社交距离保持行为、口罩佩戴及手部清洁行为的流行现状。本研究使用了2020年5月26日至6月8日间，针对巴西老龄化纵向研究（Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Aging, ELSI-Brazil）参与者开展的6149份电话访谈数据。社交距离保持行为被定义为过去7日内未离家。在考察周期内，仅32.8%的研究参与者未离家，36.3%的参与者离家1至2次，15.2%离家3至5次，另有15.7%每日离家。参与者离家的主要原因依次为：购买药品或食品（74.2%）、工作（25.1%）、缴纳账单（24.5%）、就医（10.5%）、锻炼（6.2%）以及与家人或亲友会面（8.8%）。在离家的参与者中，97.3%始终佩戴口罩，97.3%始终坚持手部清洁。女性离家频率低于男性；男性更常因工作及锻炼需求离家，而女性则更常因就医需求离家。男性（优势比（odds ratio, OR）=1.84）、受教育程度较高者（受教育5-8年、9年及以上者的OR分别为1.48和1.95）以及城市居民（OR=1.54）在开展必要活动时离家更为频繁，且该关联不受年龄或其他特征的影响。研究结果显示，该人群对社交距离的依从性较低，但报告的口罩佩戴及手部清洁行为的普及率较高。