Preventive behavior against SARS-CoV-2 infection in adults according to whether or not they live with children. A combined analysis of the nationwide COSMO-SPAIN and ENE-COVID surveys

Front Public Health. 2023 Feb 23:11:1061367. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1061367. eCollection 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: The protection of children is a major driver of behavior among those in charge of their care. We evaluated whether compliance with preventive measures against SARS-CoV-2 infection among adults living with children was different from that of those not living with them, in 2020.

Methods: We used the COSMO-SPAIN (N = 867) and the nationally representative ENE-COVID (N = 29,926) surveys to estimate prevalence of compliance (95% confidence interval). Logistic model based standardization methods were applied to estimate standardized prevalence differences (SPrD) to the overall distribution of age, sex, education, history of COVID-19, and residence of other >60 yrs in the household.

Results: We observed that adults living with children more frequently avoided bars (SPrDENE-COVID: 4.2%; 95% CI: 2.3-6.1), crowded places (SPrDCOSMO: 8.0%; 95% CI: 0.6-15.1) and did not use public transportation (SPrDENE-COVID: 4.9%; 95% CI: 3.0-6.7). They were also more worried about work and family conciliation (SPrDCOSMO: 12.2%; 95% CI: 4.8-19.5) and about closure of education centers (SPrDCOSMO: 26.5%; 95% CI: 19.4-33.6).

Discussion: In general, adults living with children adopted slightly more frequently social distancing measures.

Keywords: COVID-19; attitudes and practices; children's exposure; health knowledge; health literacy; pandemic; prevention behaviors; sociodemographic characteristics.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Child
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Physical Distancing
  • Risk Reduction Behavior

Grants and funding

IJ was hosted in the National Center of Epidemiology, thanks to a grant of Women for Africa 6th edition, with the contribution of ENDESA. COSMO-SPAIN was funded by Carlos III Health Institute and ENE-COVID was funded by Spanish Ministry of Health, Carlos III Health Institute, and Spanish National Health System.