Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Life-Space Mobility of Older Adults Living in Brazil: REMOBILIZE Study

• Published in: Frontiers in public health Vol. 9; p. 643640
• Main Authors: Perracini, Monica R, de Amorim, Juleimar Soares Coelho, Lima, Camila Astolphi, da Silva, Alexandre, Trombini-Souza, Francis, Pereira, Daniele Sirineu, Pelicioni, Paulo Henrique Silva, Duim, Etiene, Batista, Patricia Parreira, Dos Santos, Renato Barbosa, de Lima, Maria do Carmo Correia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Media S.A 09.04.2021
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Brazil - epidemiology; Communicable Disease Control; COVID-19; Female; Health Status Disparities; Humans; Linear Models; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; participation; Prospective Studies; Public Health; Social Determinants of Health; social distancing; Socioeconomic Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; well-being; Brazil; COVID-19; participation; well-being; health status disparities; social distancing
• ISSN: 2296-2565; 2296-2565
• DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.643640

The COVID-19 pandemic hit Brazil in a scenario of substantial socioeconomic and health inequalities. It is unknown the immediate impact of social restriction recommendations (i.e., lockdown, stay-at-home) on the life-space mobility of older people. To investigate the immediate impact of COVID-19 pandemic on life-space mobility of community-dwelling Brazilian older adults and examine the social determinants of health associated with change in life-space mobility. Baseline data from a prospective cohort study (REMOBILIZE Study). Community. A convenience snowball sample of participants aged 60 and older ( = 1,482) living in 22 states in Brazil. We conducted an online and phone survey using an adapted version of the Life-Space Assessment (LSA). Linear regression models were used to investigate social determinants of health on the change in LSA score. Regardless of their gender and social determinants of health, participants showed a significant reduction in life-space mobility since COVID-19 pandemic outbreak. Life-space mobility reduction was higher among black individuals, those living alone and aged between 70 and 79. Other variables associated with change in life-space mobility, to a lesser extent, were sex, education and income. Social restriction measures due to pandemic caused substantial reduction in older adults' life-space mobility in Brazil. Social inequalities strongly affected vulnerable groups. Concerted actions should be put in place to overcome the deterioration in life-pace mobility amongst these groups. Failure in minimizing health inequalities amplified by the pandemic may jeopardize the desired achievements of the Decade of Healthy Aging.