Who Follows the Rules? A Look at COVID-19 Prevention

Different countries in Latin America reacted to COVID-19 in different ways. Exactly how did this affect the prevention measures citizens took? People from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Mexico were asked about their actions during the pandemic. The interviews happened from September 2020 to March 2021. This data came from 8, 125 adults in these nations. Trust in the leaders of these countries was measured, but it was not the biggest reason why people followed COVID-19 safety guidelines. The study found that who follows COVID-19 prevention measures was influenced by age, education status, and socioeconomic status. People who were 18-26 or 60 and older were more likely to follow the safety measures. People who had basic or intermediate education and people who were in a lower socioeconomic status were less likely to follow the safety measures. Those who were not worried about getting COVID-19 and those who were less knowledgeable about COVID-19 were less likely to follow the safety measures. The study showed that people ages 18-26 and those who were 60 or older were more likely to follow prevention measures. People who had basic or intermediate levels of education were less likely to follow the safety measures. People who had a lower economic status were less likely to follow the safety measures. People who were less concerned about catching COVID-19 were less likely to follow the safety measures. People who were less knowledgeable about COVID-19 were less likely to follow the safety measures. People who were from Brazil and Mexico were less likely to follow safety measures in comparison to the rest of the countries. The study did not find any evidence that people's trust in the president had a significant effect on whether they followed the safety measures. There must be more ways to reach people with public health information. People need to have more access to reliable information to be able to make better health decisions. If people don't have access to reliable information, they may follow non-scientific sources, which can lead to harmful decisions. It is important to keep in mind that this study does not mean that politics does not matter; it just means that it does not always matter when it comes to public health. This study shows a continuous need to improve the communication between the public and health officials.