COVID-19 Health Precautions: Identifying Demographic and Socio-Economic Disparities and Changes over Time

Author:

Jehn Anthony1,Stackhouse Matthew1,Zajacova Anna1

Affiliation:

1. Department of Sociology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

The recent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has required the adoption of precautionary health behaviours to reduce the risk of infection. This study examines adherence, as well as changes in adherence, to four key precautionary behaviours among Canadian adults: wearing face masks, social distancing, hand washing, and avoiding large crowds. Data are drawn from Series 3 and 4 of the nationally representative Canadian Perspectives Survey Series, administered by Statistics Canada in June and July 2020. We calculate overall adherence levels as well as changes over time. Logistic regression models estimate each behaviour as a function of demographic and socio-economic characteristics to identify adherence disparities across population segments. We find a nearly universal increase in precautionary behaviours from June to July in mask wearing (67.3 percent to 83.6 percent), social distancing (82.4 percent to 89.2 percent), and avoiding crowds (84.1 percent to 88.9 percent); no significant change occurred in the frequency of hand washing. We observe significant disparities in adherence to precautionary behaviours, especially for mask wearing, in June; female, older, immigrant, urban, and highly educated adults were significantly more likely to adhere to precautionary behaviours than male, younger, Canadian-born, rural, and low-educated adults. By July 2020, these disparities persisted or were slightly attenuated; women, however, had consistently higher adherence to all behaviours at both time points. These findings have substantial implications for policy and potential public health interventions.

Publisher

University of Toronto Press Inc. (UTPress)

Subject

Public Administration,Sociology and Political Science

Reference27 articles.

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3. Berthiaume, L. 2020. “Majority of Canadians Say Wearing a Mask during Coronavirus Pandemic Is a Civic Duty: Poll.” Global News, 22 September. At https://globalnews.ca/news/7350128/canadians-support-wearing-mask-coronavirus/.

4. Demographic and attitudinal determinants of protective behaviours during a pandemic: A review

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