RESUMO
Introduction: Knowing a disease is crucial for being able to fight it, especially in a region in which COVID-19 caused so many deaths, such as Latin America. Objective: To determine the association between basic knowledge of COVID-19 and education level according to country of residence in Latin America. Methodology: This is an analytical cross-sectional study. Basic level of knowledge was measured through nine close-ended questions (scale validated in Peru). The score obtained was analyzed through performing a crosstab vs. gender, age, education level, and country of residence. Results: Of a total of 9,222 respondents, almost all of them knew the common symptoms (99%), modes of transmission (93%), and knew how to recognize which was not a specific symptom (93%). Through the multivariate model, we found that there was no association with gender (p = 0.716) or age (p = 0.059), in comparison with those who had primary or a lower education level. All the other higher education levels had statistically significant scores (all p-values p < 0.001). When comparing knowledge according to countries, and using Peru as reference for comparison, Chile, Paraguay, Mexico, Bolivia, Panama, Ecuador, Costa Rica, and Colombia had a better level of knowledge (all p-values < 0.001); however, only El Salvador had a lower level (p < 0.001). Discussion: There was lack of knowledge of some topics, difference according to academic degree and country. As Peru was one of countries that obtained the lowest level of knowledge, it could have influenced the fact that it was the most affected country in the world.
RESUMO
La pandemia generada por la COVID-19 progresa diferente cuando llega a cada territorio, se comparó la progresión de casos de Coronavirus en la primera semana de la pandemia en cada país en Latinoamérica. Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, con la información de los casos confirmados en cada país, esto desde que se anunciara el primer caso en cada territorio. Se muestran las progresiones en formas de gráficas, con los casos totales y ajustados por la densidad poblacional. Uruguay y Panamá fueron los países que destacaron de todos los evaluados, tuvieron una mayor cantidad de casos confirmados ponderados en la primera semana de la pandemia. Así mismo, estos dos países también fueron los que tuvieron mayor cantidad de casos absolutos (no ponderados por la cantidad de población), así como, el país de Venezuela; que incluso se piensa que tiene más casos, por sus problemas políticos. Hubo algunas diferencias en la cantidad de casos que se presentaron en cada país Latinoamericano al final de su primera semana de epidemia COVID-19; esto podría deberse a las políticas gubernamentales que se tomaron antes y durante esos primeros días, las cuales deben servir como ejemplo para el actuar en futuros casos similares
The pandemic generated by COVID-19 progresses differently when it reaches each territory, the progression of Coronavirus cases in the first week of the pandemic was compared in each country in Latin America. A descriptive study was carried out, with the information of the confirmed cases in each country, this since the first case was announced in each territory. Progressions are shown in graphical forms, with total cases and adjusted for population density. Uruguay and Panama were the countries that stood out from all those evaluated, they had a greater number of confirmed cases weighted in the first week of the pandemic. Likewise, these two countries were also those with the highest number of absolute cases (not weighted by the number of population), as well as the country of Venezuela; that he is even thought to have more cases, due to his political problems. There were some differences in the number of cases that occurred in each Latin American country at the end of its first week of the COVID-19 epidemic; this could be due to the government policies that were taken before and during those first days, which should serve as an example for acting in future similar cases