A NEW survey by the Institute of Popular Opinion of the University of Mindanao highlights the knowledge of Davaoenos on the COVID-19 pandemic and how they adapt to the changes as a result of the limitation in movement over the past year, touching on their psychosocial status one year after the pandemic broke out.
The survey showed that 3 out of 10 Davaoeños know someone in their community who has been infected with COVID-19. Only 2 out of 10 Davaoeños experienced the swab test and in keeping with the health protocols, 9 out of 10 Davaoeños practiced handwashing with soap after being outside of their homes.
Six out of 10 Davaoeños usually leave their homes to work; 7 out of 10 go out to go to the market, grocery, or drugstore; 5 of 10 visit restaurants, cafés or malls, and; 3 of 10 go out to spend time with friends or people who are not part of their households. In addition, 5 out of 10 respondents use public transport, and 3 out of 10 observed that public transport carry 10 or more people at a time.
As for their health and wellness, the findings of the survey revealed almost half or 4 out of 10 Davaoeños experience sadness in the present situation, while 5 of 10 are worried that they or their immediate family members might catch the COVID-19 disease.
Economic worries also hound 3 of 10 respondents, who expressed worry that they might not have enough funds to support their households while 4 of 10 worry where to source out their food subsistence for the next week.
Analysis further revealed that knowing someone in the community who is or have been infected by COVID-19 is associated with their worry of the possibility of being infected also. Moreover, their decision to come out to work and take public transport with 10 or more co-passengers is associated with their worry of not being able to secure themselves financially in the next week.
The survey was done online, mostly through Facebook, with respondents at least 18 years old and living in Davao City. Out of the 1,200 respondents, the survey yielded 875 valid responses.
