Brazilians are still afraid
November 2020, study conducted by Trocando Fraldas with more than 11,800 women between October 8 and 12, 2020: Brazil remains the second country with the highest number of reported coronavirus deaths in the world, behind only the United States. It is also third in number of cases, below the US and India, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Since the last weeks of October, the number of deaths has declined compared to the peak reached at the end of July, when more than a thousand deaths were recorded per day. Even so, the population's fear continues. As found in our most recent study, 63% of Brazilians are still afraid of contracting Covid-19.
Are you afraid of contracting coronavirus?
Why are so many people afraid?
One of the reasons that may explain the high percentage fearing infection is the percentage of people who have been infected. Among respondents, only 12% answered that they had already been infected by the virus. That is, at least 88% of people may be susceptible to infection.
Have you already contracted coronavirus?
- Roraima is the state with the highest percentage of infected, with 30% of the population.
- In São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, at least 11% reported having already been infected by the virus. Meanwhile, at least 63% are afraid of being infected.
- The state with the lowest percentage of infected is Minas Gerais, with 6% of participants. Meanwhile, 65% of the population is afraid of contracting the virus.
Negative effects of the pandemic
During a pandemic like coronavirus, deaths are inevitable and among the participants, at least 25% of them lost a friend or relative to Covid-19.
- In Amapá, at least 44% of respondents lost a friend or relative.
- In Rio de Janeiro, 30% went through the pain of loss during the pandemic.
- In São Paulo, 23% of the population lost a close friend or relative.
- The states with the lowest percentages are Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul with 17%, 16%, and 14% respectively.
Ranking of states where people lost a relative or friend
- 1.Amapá
- 2.Roraima
- 3.Amazonas
- 4.Maranhão
- 5.Pará
- 6.Mato Grosso
- 7.Rio de Janeiro
- 8.Rondônia
- 9.Ceará
- 10.Goiás
- 11.Piauí
- 12.Alagoas
- 13.Distrito Federal
- 14.Espírito Santo
- 15.Rio Grande do Norte
- 16.Pernambuco
- 17.Tocantins
- 18.Acre
- 19.Bahia
- 20.São Paulo
- 21.Paraíba
- 22.Sergipe
- 23.Mato Grosso do Sul
- 24.Minas Gerais
- 25.Santa Catarina
- 26.Paraná
- 27.Rio Grande do Sul
The fear will continue until 2021
One solution to decreasing the population’s fear is, without a doubt, the Covid-19 vaccine, which is already being tested in various countries. However, there are still some uncertainties regarding its availability for Brazilians. The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) hopes the vaccine will start in Brazil by March 2021.
Until then, the fear will continue, and as we found in our study, the fear of becoming infected is even greater among people who have had a relative get sick — 74% of them. In addition, women are more afraid of catching the virus, 63%, compared to 51% of men.
Fear by state
- As the data show, the state where participants are most afraid of becoming infected is Piauí, with 75% of participants.
- In Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, 66% and 63% are afraid, respectively.
- Santa Catarina is the state where people are the least afraid of being infected, with 53%.
Rate of Brazilians afraid of being infected
Research Method
The study covered the whole country and was carried out with more than 11,800 people from October 8 to 12, 2020. The data collection method was a questionnaire form on the internet.
The following questions were addressed:
- Have you already contracted the coronavirus?
- Are you afraid of contracting coronavirus?
- Have you lost a relative or friend to coronavirus?
To compare the results among regions and states, the answers to yes/no questions were counted as numbers, 1 for "yes" and 0 for "no." Some questions, aiming for more qualitative results, were formulated with more options.
