COVID-19 Exposure and Associated Factors in Southern Brazil Students

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) emerged in late 2019 and was declared a pandemic from March 2020 to May 2023, profoundly affecting public health systems, economies, and daily life worldwide. University students were among the most impacted groups, facing abrupt transitions to remote learning, social isolation, and increased psychological distress due to academic and personal uncertainties. During the pandemic, few studies have been conducted with this population and so far, none have evaluated factors associated with COVID-19 infection in university students, so this study aimed to evaluate variables associated with COVID-19 infection among university students in southern Brazil. Data were collected from July to November 2020 through an online questionnaire addressing lifestyle and health, with participation from 1533 students. Among the variables analyzed, statistically significant associations with COVID-19 infection were identified for age, occupation, use of continuous medication, compliance with social distancing, and self-medication practices. Younger students (18–29 years) and those dedicated solely to studying exhibited higher infection rates. Additionally, participants who reported using continuous medication, not adhering to social distancing measures, or engaging in self-medication were significantly more likely to have contracted COVID-19. These results help outline risk profiles within the university student population and contribute to improved preparedness for future disease outbreaks. Furthermore, they underscore attitudes and behaviors that may increase vulnerability to infectious diseases, highlighting the importance of targeted health promotion and prevention strategies in this demographic.