Factors Associated With The Consumption Of Chlorine Dioxide To Prevent And Treat COVID-19 In The Peruvian Population

Abstract

Background: Chlorine dioxide has been promoted as an alternative for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 especially in Peru, despite the lack of evidence to support its efficacy. We aimed to evaluate the factors associated with chlorine dioxide consumption in the Peruvian population. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study. An adult Peruvian population was evaluated where chlorine dioxide consumption was divided into two groups according to the purpose of use: as prevention (individuals without COVID-19 history) and as treatment (individuals with COVID-19 history). The associated factors in each group were evaluated using Poisson regressions with the bootstrapping resampling method. Results: Of 3610 participants included, 3213 reported no history of COVID-19, and 397 had been infected. The prevalence of chlorine dioxide consumption to prevent or treat COVID-19 was 8 and 16%, respectively. Factors associated with chlorine dioxide consumption for both prevention and treatment were considering COVID-19 dangerous and lethal and considering chlorine dioxide ineffective or being uninformed of its efficacy. In addition, factors associated with the use of chlorine dioxide only as a preventive were the male sex, being an adult and older adult, having a health sciences student within the family unit, using medical information as the main source of information of COVID-19, having some comorbidity, and using medications and plants for prevention of COVID-19. Conclusions: The prevalence of chlorine dioxide consumption among the Peruvian population evaluated was high so it is important to apply information strategies, prioritizing population groups with certain characteristics that are associated with a higher consumption pattern.