Is self-reported depression, HIV status, COVID-19 health risk profile and SARS-CoV-2 exposure associated with difficulty in adhering to COVID-19 prevention measures among residents in West Africa?

Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan*, Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuniga, Giuliana Florencia Abeldaño, Mir Faeq Ali Quadri, Mohammed Jafer, Muhammad Abrar Yousaf, Passent Ellakany, Ntombifuthi Nzimande, Eshrat Ara, Nuraldeen Maher Al-Khanati, Zumama Khalid, Folake Lawal, Mark Roque, Joanne Lusher, Bamidele O Popoola, Abeedha Tu-Allah Khan, Martin Amogre Ayanore, Balgis Gaffar, Jorma I Virtanen, Nourhan M AlyJoseph Chukwudi Okeibunor, Maha El Tantawi, Annie Lu Nguyen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine whether self-reported depression, coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) health risk profile, HIV status, and SARS-CoV-2 exposure were associated with the use of COVID-19 prevention measures.

METHODS: This survey collected data electronically between June 29 and December 31, 2020 from a convenient sample of 5050 adults 18 years and above living in 12 West African countries. The dependent variables were: social distancing, working remotely, difficulty obtaining face masks and difficulty washing hands often. The independent variables were self-reported depression, having a health risk for COVID-19 (high, moderate and little/no risk), living with HIV and COVID-19 status (SARS-CoV-2 positive tests, having COVID-19 symptoms but not getting tested, having a close friend who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and knowing someone who died from COVID-19). Four binary logistic regression models were developed to model the associations between the dependent and independent variables, adjusting for socio-demographic variables (age, gender, educational status, employment status and living status).

RESULTS: There were 2412 (47.8%) male participants and the mean (standard deviation) age was 36.94 (11.47) years. Respondents who reported depression had higher odds of working remotely (AOR: 1.341), and having difficulty obtaining face masks (AOR: 1.923;) and washing hands often (AOR: 1.263). People living with HIV had significantly lower odds of having difficulty washing hands often (AOR: 0.483). Respondents with moderate health risk for COVID-19 had significantly higher odds of social distancing (AOR: 1.144) and those with high health risk had difficulty obtaining face masks (AOR: 1.910). Respondents who had a close friend who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (AOR: 1.132) and knew someone who died of COVID-19 (AOR: 1.094) had significantly higher odds of social distancing. Those who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 had significantly lower odds of social distancing (AOR: 0.629) and working remotely (AOR: 0.713). Those who had symptoms of COVID-19 but did not get tested had significantly lower odds of social distancing (AOR: 0.783) but significantly higher odds of working remotely (AOR: 1.277).

CONCLUSIONS: The study signifies a disparity in the access to and use of COVID-19 preventative measures that is allied to the health and COVID-19 status of residents in West Africa. Present findings point to risk compensation behaviours in explaining this outcome.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2057
Number of pages11
JournalBMC Public Health
Volume22
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Nov 2022

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Male
  • Humans
  • Female
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • COVID-19/epidemiology
  • Self Report
  • Depression/epidemiology
  • HIV Infections/epidemiology

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