Risk Perception of COVID?19 Community Transmission among the Spanish Population

José Miguel Mansilla Domínguez, Isabel Font Jiménez, Angel Belzunegui Eraso, David Peña Otero, David Díaz Pérez and Ana María Recio Vivas
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José Miguel Mansilla Domínguez: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Science, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain
Isabel Font Jiménez: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Science, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain
Angel Belzunegui Eraso: Medical Anthropology Research Center, Faculty of Nursing, Rovira i Virgili University, 43002 Tarragona, Spain
David Peña Otero: Hospital de Sierrallana, Advisor, Sub-Directorate of Primary Care, Cantabrian Health Service, 39011 Cantabria, Spain
David Díaz Pérez: Respiratory Nursing Department at Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR), 08029 Barcelona, Spain
Ana María Recio Vivas: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Science, Universidad Europea de Madrid, 28670 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: On 11 March 2020 the SARS-CoV−2 virus was officially declared a pandemic and measures were set up in various countries to avoid its spread among the population. This paper aims to analyse the perception of risk of COVID−19 infection in the Spanish population. A cross-sectional, descriptive observational study was conducted with a total of 16,372 Spanish participants. An online survey was used to gather data for 5 consecutive days over the compulsory lockdown period which was established after the state of emergency was declared. There is an association between socio-demographic variables and risk perception, and a very strong relationship between this perception and contact and direct experience with the virus in a family, social or professional setting. We also found that compared to working from home, working outside the home increased the perception of risk of infection and the perception of worsening health. Understanding the public perception of the risk of COVID−19 infection is fundamental for establishing effective prevention measures.

Keywords: Covid19; SARS-CoV?2; community transmission; risk perception; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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