Associated factors with negative self-perceived health in university students during social isolation - covid-19 pandemic

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associated factors with negative self-perceived health in students enrolled in public and private universities in a Brazilian urban centre during the social isolation due to COVID-19 pandemic. It was cross-sectional research developed with a sample of public and private university students. A questionnairewas applied addressing sociodemographic data, clinical conditions, behavioural habits and self-perceived health. Bivariate analysis followed by Poisson regression, with robust variance, were performed to associate the variables with negative self-perceived health. The prevalence of negative self-perceived health during social isolation in the population studied was 52.4%, in 857 university students. Among university students being female, enrolledin a public institution/university, the family having lost income during social isolation and not practising physical activity during social isolation, remained associated with negative self-perception of health. The high prevalence of negative self-perceived health and the associations observed point to the need for health promotion actions aimed at university students in this period of social isolation due to the pandemic of COVID-19.