COVID-19 Misinformation in Portuguese-Speaking Countries: Agreement with Content and Associated Factors

Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa, Guilherme Schneider, Herica Emilia Félix de Carvalho, Layze Braz de Oliveira, Shirley Verônica Melo Almeida Lima, Anderson Reis de Sousa, Telma Maria Evangelista de Araújo, Emerson Lucas Silva Camargo, Mônica Oliveira Batista Oriá, Carmen Viana Ramos, Rodrigo Mota de Oliveira, Camila Aparecida Pinheiro Landim Almeida, Andrêa Jacqueline Fortes Ferreira, Jules Ramon Brito Teixeira, Iracema Lua, Fernanda de Oliveira Souza, Tânia Maria de Araújo, Inês Fronteira and Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes
Additional contact information
Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa: Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
Guilherme Schneider: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14040-902, Brazil
Herica Emilia Félix de Carvalho: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14040-902, Brazil
Layze Braz de Oliveira: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14040-902, Brazil
Shirley Verônica Melo Almeida Lima: Center for Research in Collective Health, Federal University of Sergipe, Sao Cristovao 49100-000, Brazil
Anderson Reis de Sousa: College of Nursing, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador 40110-909, Brazil
Telma Maria Evangelista de Araújo: Nursing Department, Federal University of Piauí, Teresina 64049-550, Brazil
Emerson Lucas Silva Camargo: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14040-902, Brazil
Mônica Oliveira Batista Oriá: Nursing Department, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, Brazil
Carmen Viana Ramos: Nursing Department, Centro Universitário UNINOVAFAPI/AFYA, Teresina 64073-505, Brazil
Rodrigo Mota de Oliveira: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14040-902, Brazil
Camila Aparecida Pinheiro Landim Almeida: Institute of Health Sciences, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 4099-002 Porto, Portugal
Andrêa Jacqueline Fortes Ferreira: Data and Knowledge Integration Center for Health—CIDACS (Fiocruz-Bahia), Salvador 41745-715, Brazil
Jules Ramon Brito Teixeira: Epidemiology Center, Feira de Santana State University, Feira de Santana 44036-900, Brazil
Iracema Lua: Institute of Collective Health, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-110, Brazil
Fernanda de Oliveira Souza: Health, Education and Work Department, Federal University of Recôncavo da Bahia, Santo Antonio de Jesus 44380-000, Brazil
Tânia Maria de Araújo: Epidemiology Center, Feira de Santana State University, Feira de Santana 44036-900, Brazil
Inês Fronteira: Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM), Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirao Preto 14040-902, Brazil

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, a complex phenomenon called the “infodemic” has emerged, compromising coping with the pandemic. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of agreement with misinformation about COVID-19 and to identify associated factors. A web survey was carried out in Portuguese-speaking countries in two stages: 1. the identification of misinformation circulating in the included countries; 2. a multicentric online survey with residents of the included countries. The outcome of the study was agreement or disagreement with misinformation about COVID-19. Multivariate analyzes were conducted using the Poisson regression model with robust variance, a logarithmic link function, and 95% confidence intervals. The prevalence of agreement with misinformation about COVID-19 was 63.9%. The following factors increased the prevalence of this outcome: having a religious affiliation (aPR: 1.454, 95% CI: 1.393–1.517), having restrictions on leisure (aPR: 1.230, 95% CI: 1.127–1.342), practicing social isolation (aPR: 1.073, 95% CI: 1.030–1.118), not avoiding agglomeration (aPR: 1.060, 95% CI: 1.005–1.117), not seeking/receiving news from scientific sources (aPR: 1.153, 95% CI: 1.068–1.245), seeking/receiving news from three or more non-scientific sources (aPR: 1.114, 95% CI: 1.049–1.182), and giving credibility to news carried by people from social networks (aPR: 1.175, 95% CI: 1.104–1.251). There was a high prevalence of agreement with misinformation about COVID-19. The quality, similarity, uniformity, and acceptance of the contents indicate a concentration of themes that reflect “homemade”, simple, and easy methods to avoid infection by SARS-CoV-2, compromising decision-making and ability to cope with the disease.

Keywords: COVID-19; misinformation; pandemics; coronavirus infections; biomedical technology; health-related behaviors (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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