FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSUMPTION OF MEDICINAL PLANTS FOR THE PREVENTION OF COVID-19 IN PERUVIAN POPULATION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Objective. To determine the factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants as prevention of COVID-19 in the Peruvian population. Materials and methods. We evaluated population over 18 years of age, residents of Peru and without history of COVID-19. Factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants were evaluated using Poisson regression model with robust variances. Results. Of the 3231 participants included, 84.6% were young (18-29 years), 62.7% were women and 59.7% consumed some medicinal plant to prevent COVID-19. The factors associated with the consumption of medicinal plants to prevent COVID-19 infection were residing in the Peruvian highlands, having had a family member diagnosed with COVID-19, having had a family member die from COVID-19, considering their family to be at higher risk of infection, having used medicines or chlorine dioxide to prevent COVID-19, having medical information as the main source of information about COVID-19, thinking that medicinal plants are effective in preventing COVID-19 disease, or not being informed about their efficacy. Conclusion. Sixty percent of the participants reported having consumed some medicinal plant to prevent COVID-19. It is important that the authorities apply communication strategies on what the consumption of medicinal plants implies, prioritizing the population groups that have higher consumption patterns.