Association between the health vulnerability of family members and concern about the contagion of COVID‐19 in Peruvian residents after the pandemic

• Published in: Journal of general and family medicine 2024-05, Vol.25 (3), p.146-153
• Main Authors: Olavarria Coronado, Richard D, Aranda Medina, Julianna, Chávez Sosa, Janett V, Huancahuire-Vega, Salomón
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chronic illnesses; Community; concern; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cronbach's alpha; Data analysis; Data collection; Disease; Families & family life; family health; Foreign residents; Gender; Health insurance; health vulnerability; Higher education; Marital status; Original; Pandemics; Peruvian population; Polls & surveys; Social networks; Society; Sociodemographics; Variables; Young adults
• ISSN: 2189-7948; 2189-6577; 2189-7948
• DOI: 10.1002/jgf2.686

Background The COVID‐19 pandemic has created additional challenges for family health. Worry, fear, and anxiety associated with this disease can affect the perception of family health. The study's objective was to analyze the factors associated with health vulnerability of family members in the Peruvian population after pandemic. Methods Observational, cross‐sectional, and analytical study. Sampling was nonprobabilistic. The sample consisted of 519 residents who met the following inclusion criteria: Peruvian resident, of both genders, over 18 years of age, who lives with their family, and who agrees to participate in the study. For data collection, the “SALUFAM” and “PRE‐COVID‐19” scales were used, which measure the health vulnerability of family members and concern about the contagion of COVID‐19, respectively. Data collection was done between January and March, 2023. Results Living in the Coast region increases by 3.299 times (95% CI = 1.55–9.28; p = 0.003) the probability of lower family health vulnerability compared to residents from the Jungle region. In the same way, having a low concern about the contagion of COVID‐19 increases 2.77 times (95% CI = 1.02–7.53; p = 0.044) the probability of less vulnerability to family health, unlike participants who are highly concerned about the contagion of COVID‐19. Conclusions It should be necessary to design prevention and family health promotion strategies according to the geographical region; it is also essential to provide education on the risks and the importance of prevention measures for COVID‐19, regardless of their initial level of concern.