Score estimate of COVID-19 risks as per socio-hygienic and behavioral indicators

Epidemiologic situation remains a serious concern all over the world due to the coronavirus infection spread. It is vital to adhere to measure of non-specific COVID-19 prevention. According to literature data, the highest risks of the infection spread occur in public transport, retail outlets where foods and nonfoods are sold, medical organizations, and chemists’ shops. Our research objects were socio-hygienic and behavioral indicators that were risk factors of the coronavirus infection. Our research aim was to substantiate a score estimate of the COVID-19 contagion risk based on socio-hygienic and behavioral indicators. Questioning was applied to determine frequency of visiting public places and adherence to basic measurements of non-specific COVID-19 prevention; overall, 400 respondents took part in it. A questionnaire was developed by experts of the Department of General Hygiene at Sechenov University and contained questions aimed at revealing informative signs (risk factors) of the coronavirus infection spread. Cluster analysis was applied to group respondents’ questions and to identify informative signs for further development of a scale showing risk categories. Factor analysis in a form of principal component analysis was applied to questions that had the highest number of statistically significant indicators of Spearman’s correlation coefficient. We developed a procedure for assessing risks of COVID-19 contagion according to socio-hygienic and behavioral indicators and substantiated risk categories. The most significant risk factors were indicators related to mandatory mask wearing when visiting specific social objects (risk objects); when taking trips by various means of public transport and duration of such trips; keeping social distance when visiting social objects. We performed score estimate of risk categories regarding COVID-19 contagion.