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COVID-19-Related Experiences and Perspectives of Peruvian College Students: A Descriptive Study
Author(s)
Bazo-Alvarez, Juan Carlos
Universidad César Vallejo
Bazalar-Palacios, Janina
Universidad Tecnológica del Perú
Quiñones-Negrete, Magaly
Catholic University Los Angeles of Chimbote
Ipanaqué-Zapata, Miguel
Universidad Norbert Wiener
Hoyt, Lindsay Till
Fordham University
Bennett, Chloe R.
Northeastern University
Cohen, Alison K.
University of California, San Francisco
Date Issued
2024
Type
Article
Publisher
SAGE Publications Inc.
Volume
51
Issue
3
Series/Report No.
Health Education & Behavior
Contained in
Health Education and Behavior
Start Page
367
End Page
375
ISSN
1090-1981
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected higher education and higher education students around the world, but few studies of college students’ experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic have been conducted in Latin America. This study describes the COVID-19-related experiences and perspectives of Peruvian college students. We surveyed 3,427 full-time college students (average age: 23 years) attending a multi-campus Peruvian university in fall 2020. Participants were recruited through the digital platform of the learning management system at their university, email, and social media. We asked participants how they were managing risks related to COVID-19; the continuity of social, educational, and work activities; and the psychological and economic impacts of the pandemic on their lives. Since March 2020, 73.0% of participants reported COVID-19-related symptoms, but only 33.9% were tested for COVID-19. During the national quarantine imposed by the Peruvian government (March 15–June 30, 2020), 64.3% of participants remained in their house. Furthermore, while 44.0% of participants were working in February 2020 (95% CI: [41.7%, 46.4%]), only 23.6% (95% CI: [21.7%, 25.7%]) were working immediately after the pandemic began (i.e., at the end of April 2020). Participants were more stressed about the health and educational implications of COVID-19 for Peruvian society and their families than about themselves. The public health, economic, and educational implications of COVID-19 on college students are continuing to unfold. This study informed Peruvian higher education institutions’ continued response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the progressive return to postpandemic activities, as well as other future pandemics and other crises.