Study: Coronavirus

What do Brazilians think?

The most talked about topic in the world in recent days has been the coronavirus. As scientists point out, it is a new virus that is a variation of the coronavirus family. According to the Ministry of Health, the first viruses were identified in 1960; and it is still not clear to researchers how the mutation occurred that allowed the emergence of this new virus.

The World Health Organization issued the first alert about the disease on December 31, 2019, after Chinese authorities reported a mysterious pneumonia in the city of Wuhan, a Chinese metropolis with 11 million inhabitants, the seventh largest city in China and number 42 in the world. Its size is comparable to the city of São Paulo, which has more than 12 million inhabitants.

In Brazil, according to the federal government, 28 suspected cases have already been ruled out since monitoring began, and this number may still rise, considering that the country still has some suspected cases. Even so, 61% of Brazilians believe that the coronavirus will reach Brazil.

Do you think the coronavirus will reach Brazil?

Concern about the Coronavirus

Are you concerned about the coronavirus?

  • 72% of Brazilians are concerned about the virus, regardless of their age. And more than half think that the virus may reach the country.
  • Concern about the virus is higher among women, with 73% of them. While only 66% of men are concerned.
  • Additionally, participants with children are more concerned about the virus than pregnant women. Among respondents with children, 76% are concerned, compared to 69% of pregnant women.
  • When it comes to the health of their children in relation to the coronavirus, women are more concerned, at 42% of female respondents. Meanwhile, only 38% of men are.
  • This concern increases with the age of the respondent. From ages 18 to 24, only 30% are concerned. While from 45 to 49 years old, 63% are concerned.

Is the Brazilian healthcare system prepared?

Do you think the healthcare system in Brazil is prepared for the virus?

  • Another relevant data point from the study is that 86% of Brazilians do not think that the country's healthcare system is prepared for the coronavirus.
  • Among men and women, 21% of men trust the healthcare system, while among women this percentage is 14%.
  • Even so, more than half of Brazilians agree that the government should intervene and remove Brazilians from the risk area in China.

Opinions divided by state

  • In Espírito Santo only 9% of respondents believe that the healthcare system is prepared for the coronavirus. In Rio de Janeiro, the number is also low, with 10%.
  • Rio Grande do Sul is one of the states with the highest number of people who think that the coronavirus will arrive in Brazil.
  • In São Paulo, 82% of participants are concerned about the health of their children in relation to the virus.

Index of Expectation of Arrival in Brazil by State

Research Method

The study had national coverage and was carried out with approximately 8000 respondents in February 2020. The data collection method was through an online questionnaire form.

Questions

The following questions were addressed:
  1. What is your age?
  2. What is your gender?
  3. Which state are you from?
  4. Are you concerned about the coronavirus?
  5. Are you concerned about your children's health due to the coronavirus?
  6. Do you think the coronavirus will reach Brazil?
  7. Do you think the healthcare system in Brazil is prepared for the virus?
  8. Do you think the government should remove Brazilians from the risk area in China?

For comparing the results between regions and states, the affirmative responses were tallied as numbers, 1 for "yes" and 0 for "no". Some questions, aiming to obtain more qualitative results, were structured with more options.