AUTHOR=Tancredi Stefano , van der Linden Bernadette W. A. , Chiolero Arnaud , Cullati Stéphane , Imboden Medea , Probst-Hensch Nicole , Keidel Dirk , Witzig Melissa , Dratva Julia , Michel Gisela , Harju Erika , Frank Irene , Lorthe Elsa , Baysson Hélène , Stringhini Silvia , Kahlert Christian R. , Bardoczi Julia B. , Haller Moa Lina , Chocano-Bedoya Patricia O. , Rodondi Nicolas , Amati Rebecca , Albanese Emiliano , Corna Laurie , Crivelli Luca , Kaufmann Marco , Frei Anja , von Wyl Viktor TITLE=Socioeconomic Status and Adherence to Preventive Measures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Switzerland: A Population Based Digital Cohort Analysis JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health VOLUME=69 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2024.1606861 DOI=10.3389/ijph.2024.1606861 ISSN=1661-8564 ABSTRACT=Objectives

To assess the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and self-reported adherence to preventive measures in Switzerland during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

4,299 participants from a digital cohort were followed between September 2020 and November 2021. Baseline equivalised disposable income and education were used as SES proxies. Adherence was assessed over time. We investigated the association between SES and adherence using multivariable mixed logistic regression, stratifying by age (below/above 65 years) and two periods (before/after June 2021, to account for changes in vaccine coverage and epidemiological situation).

Results

Adherence was high across all SES strata before June 2021. After, participants with higher equivalised disposable income were less likely to adhere to preventive measures compared to participants in the first (low) quartile [second (Adj.OR, 95% CI) (0.56, 0.37–0.85), third (0.38, 0.23–0.64), fourth (0.60, 0.36–0.98)]. We observed similar results for education.

Conclusion

No differences by SES were found during the period with high SARS-CoV-2 incidence rates and stringent measures. Following the broad availability of vaccines, lower incidence, and eased measures, differences by SES started to emerge. Our study highlights the need for contextual interpretation when assessing SES impact on adherence to preventive measures.