Self-perception of mental health, COVID-19 and associated sociodemographic-contextual factors in Latin America

• Published in: Cadernos de saúde pública Vol. 40; no. 3; p. e00157723
• Main Authors: Roa, Pablo, Rosas, Guillermo, Niño-Cruz, Gloria Isabel, Moreno-López, Sergio Mauricio, Mejía-Grueso, Juliana, Aguirre-Loaiza, Haney, Alarcón-Aguilar, Javiera, Reis, Rodrigo, Hino, Adriano Akira Ferreira, López, Fernando, Salvo, Deborah, Ramírez-Varela, Andrea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Brazil Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz 01.01.2024; Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
• Subjects: Adult; Brazil - epidemiology; COVID-19; Cross-Sectional Studies; Humans; Latin America - epidemiology; Mental Health; Pandemics; Politics; PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH; Quality of Life; SARS-CoV-2; Self Concept; Social Determinants of Health; South American People; Brazil; Latin America; Determinantes Sociais da Saúde; SARS-CoV-2; Social Determinants of Health; Saúde Mental; Mental Health; Politics; Salud Mental; Política; Determinantes Sociales de la Salud
• ISSN: 0102-311X; 1678-4464; 1678-4464
• DOI: 10.1590/0102-311XEN157723

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of alterations in self-perceived mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and their associated factors in four Latin American countries. This is a cross-sectional study based on data collected from adults in 2021 through the Collaborative Response COVID-19 Survey by the MacDonnell Academy at Washington University in St. Louis (United States). The sample was composed of 8,125 individuals from Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Chile. A generalized linear model for a binary outcome variable with a logistic link and fixed country effects was used. There were 2,336 (28.75%) individuals who considered having suffered alterations in self-perceived mental health. Unemployed individuals (OR = 1.40; 95%CI: 1.24-1.58), those with bad/regular quality of life (OR = 5.03; 95%CI: 4.01-6.31), and those with high socioeconomic status (OR = 1.66; 95%CI: 1.41-1.96) had a higher risk of self-perceived mental health alterations than those with full-time employment, excellent quality, and low socioeconomic status. According to the fixed-effects model, Brazilians living in the country during the pandemic, who disagreed with their government's decisions (OR = 2.05; 95%CI: 1.74-2.42) and lacked trust in their government (OR = 2.10; 95%CI: 1.74-2.42) had a higher risk of having self-perceived mental health alterations. Nearly 30% of respondents indicated that the COVID-19 pandemic altered their self-perceived mental health. This outcome was associated with political, sociodemographic, and health risk factors. These findings should help policymakers develop post-pandemic community interventions.