Master of Public Health Program, School of Health Sciences, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota.
College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota.
S D Med. 2020 Nov;73(11):536-539.
There is a lack of information concerning the impact of COVID-19 on rural populations. This report shares key results from a cross-sectional survey of South Dakota residents' perceptions on the impact and knowledge of COVID-19 during the early phases of the pandemic.
From March 24 to April 14, 2020, South Dakota residents (n = 4,761) reported on their psychological symptoms, pandemic-related stressful experiences, top concerns regarding the pandemic, attitudes towards COVID-19, and social distancing behaviors, and where residents were getting COVID information and who they trust to provide accurate information.
Most participants were engaging in at least some social distancing and indicated at least moderate concern about COVID-19. Across age groups, getting sick from the coronavirus was the most frequently endorsed concern. Younger adults endorsed concerns about not being able to work, whereas older adults endorsed concerns about accessing medical care. The majority of the sample reported anxiety, worry, and sleep problems; about half the sample reported depressed mood, anhedonia, and appetite problems. Results highlight the importance of engaging public health experts and physicians in COVID-19 health messaging campaigns.
These data provide insight into the specific challenges experienced by adults and youth in a rural state during the early phase of the pandemic. Public Health professionals and medical doctors are in a unique position to guide targeted interventions and health messaging.
关于 COVID-19 对农村人口的影响，我们知之甚少。本报告分享了南达科他州居民在大流行早期对 COVID-19 的影响和认知的横断面调查的关键结果。
2020 年 3 月 24 日至 4 月 14 日，南达科他州居民（n=4761）报告了他们的心理症状、与大流行相关的紧张经历、对大流行的主要关注、对 COVID-19 的态度以及社会隔离行为，以及他们在哪里获得 COVID 信息以及他们信任谁提供准确的信息。
大多数参与者至少有一些社会距离，并对 COVID-19 表示至少中度关注。在所有年龄组中，感染冠状病毒是最常被认可的关注点。年轻人对无法工作表示关注，而老年人则对获得医疗护理表示关注。大多数样本报告了焦虑、担忧和睡眠问题；约一半的样本报告了情绪低落、快感缺失和食欲问题。研究结果强调了公共卫生专家和医生在 COVID-19 健康信息宣传活动中的重要性。
这些数据提供了对大流行早期农村地区成年人和青少年所经历的具体挑战的深入了解。公共卫生专业人员和医生处于指导有针对性的干预措施和健康信息宣传的独特地位。
