Conviver na Escola em Tempos de Pandemia COVID-19

Perceções dos Estudantes

Abstract

The pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus has had a high impact on adolescents' routines affecting their physical and mental health. This situation was aggravated by confinement with withdrawal from the school community. The study aims to assess the perceptions of elementary school 2nd and 3rd cycle students about COVID-19.

The cross-sectional study, carried out through an online questionnaire, included 1743 students, aged 11 to 17, from schools in the municipality of Leiria. Data were analysed with SPSSV22 using descriptive statistics, Chi-square test, t-Student test, with a significance level of 5% and a 95% confidence interval.

Students have a high level of knowledge about the disease and its protective measures. They have a high global level of concern about situations arising from the pandemic, with the majority agreeing to return to school and admitting that face-to-face classes would allow for better assessments. They point to vaccination as an important measure to control the pandemic, showing the availability to be vaccinated.

The results point to the need to maintain information that promotes behaviors that favor security and demystify fears of the pandemic. Students' willingness to be vaccinated must be considered with a view to achieving group immunity.