The social determinants of health as predictors of adherence to public health preventive measures among parents and young children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study
This resource is available in English only.
Social determinants of health, such as race, ethnicity, income, gender, and household size, have been studied as predictors of disparities in COVID-19 infection and outcomes.
This longitudinal cohort study was designed to determine if the social determinants of health (SDOH) predict adherence among parents and children to public health preventive measures, including handwashing and maintaining physical distancing, during COVID-19, in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada.
The study included 335 parents and 416 children (aged 0-10 years) in the Greater Toronto Area, Canada as part of the TARGet Kids! COVID-19 Study. A secondary objective of the study was to describes changes in adherence over time.
Predictors associated with adherence
Variables studied included:
- Age
- Sex
- Income
- Unemployment
- Ethnicity
- Housing
- Essential worker status
- Child living arrangement
- Older adults living in the household
- Parent currently pregnant
- Attending childcare
- Family history of chronic disease
Study findings
The following determinants were associated with decreased likelihood of adherence among parents:
- Unemployment
- Apartment living
- Essential worker in household
No associations were observed for other social determinants of health, including family income and ethnicity. The study also reported no strong evidence that social determinants of health were associated with child adherence.
Use this resource to:
- Understand the associations between social determinants of health and adherence to preventive public health measures
Related resources:
- Measuring what counts in the midst of the COVID 19 pandemic: Equity indicators for public health (2020)
- How Ontario is responding to COVID-19 (2020)
- Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Vulnerable populations and COVID-19 (2020)
Reference:
Yoshida-Montezuma, Y., Keown-Stoneman, C., Wanigaratne, S., Li, X., Vanderhout, S. M., Borkhoff, C. M., Birken, C. S., Maguire, J. L., & Anderson, L. N. (2021). The social determinants of health as predictors of adherence to public health preventive measures among parents and young children during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study. Canadian journal of public health = Revue canadienne de sante publique, 112(4), 552–565. https://doi.org/10.17269/s41997-021-00540-5
Tags: COVID-19, Journal Article