Predictors of adherence to the COVID-19 pandemic control guidelines

Abstract

During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, governments adopted measures to contain the disease, whose adherence is determined by multiple factors. In order to guide more effective prevention strategies, the present study aimed to identify predictors of adherence behavior to the COVID-19 pandemic control guidelines. A survey was conducted with a non-probabilistic sample composed of 2,705 Brazilians, who answered an instrument with six questionnaires (adherence to the pandemic control measures, emotions, empathy, altruism, coping, and biodemographic), whose data were analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics. It was found that the agreement with the guidelines of the World Health Organization for pandemic control, disagreement with the position of the country’s president, altruism, coping capacity, belonging to the risk group, and having close contact (at home) with people from the risk group are predictors of adherence behavior. It is concluded that preventive actions must consider these variables for greater effectiveness.