Omicron: Biosafety attitudes adopted by an urban peripheral community in Ecuador

Resumen

The Omicron variant of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-1) has generated concern worldwide due to its high transmission rate and the number of mutations it presents. To reduce the risk of contagion, certain general biosafety measures have been established, such as: the use of a mask, maintaining social distance, correct hand hygiene, vaccination, among others. The objectives of the study were: to know the answer to the question if a family member was infected with Covid-19, to identify the measure used to avoid the transmission, to recognize the frequency of use of masks and other protective measures by the family group to disinfect, finally, if they washed their hands frequently. Material and Methods: This was a descriptive, non-experimental, prospective and cross-sectional field study. It was carried out in the period from November 2021 to March 2022 in El Recreo parish, Duran canton, Province of Guayas, Ecuador. Results: Those interviewed indicated that (n=97; 53.01%) were not infected; Another group (n=80; 43.71%) responded affirmatively. The majority of family members indicated that they “isolated” the infected family member (n=79;98.75%). Members of the family group used the mask frequently (n= 155; 84.70%). The results indicated hand washing as a routine strategy to avoid contagion, respondents responded “Yes” (n= 181; 98.91%). Conclusions: Isolation offers the advantage of separating people infected with any of the confirmed or presumptive variants of Covid-19 from those who do not have it and therefore preventing infections. Hand washing continues to be the most effective measure available to the population to avoid not only this agent but other pathogens, where the transmission mechanism is strictly oral.