Determinants of self-reported health status during COVID-19 lockdown among surveyed Ecuadorian population: A cross sectional study

Abstract

Objective To examine the associations of sociodemographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors with depression, anxiety, and self-reported health status during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ecuador. We also assessed the differences in these associations between women and men. Design, setting, and participants We conducted a cross-sectional survey between July to October 2020 to adults who were living in Ecuador between March to October 2020. All data were collected through an online survey. We ran descriptive and bivariate analyses and fitted sex-stratified multivariate logistic regression models to assess the association between explanatory variables and self-reported health status. Results 1801 women and 1123 men completed the survey. Their median (IQR) age was 34 (27–44) years, most participants had a university education (84%) and a full-time public or private job (63%); 16% of participants had poor health self-perception. Poor self-perceived health was associated with being female, having solely public healthcare system access, perceiving housing conditions as inadequate, living with cohabitants requiring care, perceiving difficulties in coping with work or managing household chores, COVID-19 infection, chronic disease, and depression symptoms were significantly and independently associated with poor self-reported health status. For women, self-employment, having solely public healthcare system access, perceiving housing conditions as inadequate, having cohabitants requiring care, having very high difficulties to cope with household chores, having COVID-19, and having a chronic disease increased the likelihood of having poor self-reported health status. For men, poor or inadequate housing, presence of any chronic disease, and depression increased the likelihood of having poor self-reported health status. Conclusion Being female, having solely public healthcare system access, perceiving housing conditions as inadequate, living with cohabitants requiring care, perceiving difficulties in coping with work or managing household chores, COVID-19 infection, chronic disease, and depression symptoms were significantly and independently associated with poor self-reported health status in Ecuadorian population.

Profiles of digital health literacy among university students and its association with mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic: A latent profile analysis

“…Furthermore, our study revealed a negative impact of self-reported health on fear of COVID-19 and depression among university students, which was consistent with previous studies. 75 , 76 A study conducted in Ecuador has found a significant and independent association between self-reported health status and depression. 75 The negative relationship has also been demonstrated by an investigation conducted in Poland.…”

Gender differences in social determinant factors of mental health problems among adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in Yogyakarta, Indonesia: A multilevel analysis

“…Job loss and unpredictability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic among this age group could be particularly stressful. Poorer mental health in females was mainly related to fear of COVID-19 infection, with higher anxiety levels and worsened economic perceived inadequate housing to cope with lockdown [47]. In addition, private insurance predicted mental health problems in the female population.…”

“…Educational level is an in uencing factor in the development of anxiety and depression symptoms [60]. For males, poor or inadequate housing, any chronic disease, and depression increased the likelihood of having poor self-reported health status [47].…”

Social Inequalities in Mental Health and Self-Perceived Health in the First Wave of COVID-19 Lockdown in Latin America and Spain: Results of an Online Observational Study

“…Subsequently, the country’s sanitary traffic light was planned, with different measures according to the number of infections. At the end of May 2020, “social distancing” was proposed, a period in which the different municipalities would develop pilot plans for the progressive return to operation of the productive sectors, including educational centers and recreational services such as shopping centers [ 15 , 21 , 24 ].…”

“…In studies of countries in the region, in addition to the factors mentioned (i.e., considering women and younger people), worsening mental health is associated with being attentive to news about the pandemic, having someone close diagnosed with COVID-19, the possibility of getting sick, loss of contact with peers [ 28 ], feeling a greater burden in taking care of children, taking medication on a regular basis, having a lower family income [ 29 ], not having a partner [ 6 ], and having poor sleep quality [ 30 ]. In the case of self-perceived health, there are studies that showed a relationship with having informal work, being a student or retired, reporting gender violence [ 14 ], having solely public healthcare system access, having COVID-19, and presence of any chronic illness [ 24 ], factors that increased the probability of having poor self-reported health status. However, there is limited evidence in comparative studies about mental health and self-perceived health in the region.…”