DOI: 10.5061/dryad.ghx3ffbpg
title: Use of medicinal plants for COVID-19 prevention and respiratory symptom treatment during the pandemic in Cusco, Peru: A cross-sectional survey

description: Background: The burden of the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru has led to people
 seeking alternative treatments as preventives and treatment options such
 as medicinal plants. This study aimed to assess factors associated with
 the use of medicinal plants as preventive or treatment of respiratory
 symptom related to COVID-19 during the pandemic in Cusco, Peru. Method: A
 web-based cross-sectional study was conducted on general public (20- to
 70-year-old) from August 31 to September 20, 2020. Data were collected
 using a structured questionnaire via Google Forms, it consisted of an
 11-item questionnaire that was developed and validated by expert judgment
 using Aiken's V (Aiken's V &gt; 0.9). Both descriptive
 statistics and bivariate followed by multivariable logistic regression
 analyses were conducted to assess factors associated with the use of
 medicinal plants for COVID-19 prevention and respiratory symptom treatment
 during the pandemic. Prevalence ratios (PR) with 95% Confidence Interval
 (CI), and a P-value of 0.05 was used to determine statistical
 significance. Results: A total of 1,747 respondents participated in the
 study, 80.2% reported that they used medicinal plants as preventives,
 while 71% reported that they used them to treat respiratory symptoms. At
 least, 24% of respondents used medicinal plants when presenting with two
 or more respiratory symptoms, while at least 11% used plants for malaise.
 For treatment or prevention, the multivariate analysis showed that most
 respondents used eucalyptus (p ​​&lt; 0.001 for both), ginger (p​​
 &lt; 0.022 for both), spiked pepper (p &lt; 0.003 for both),
 garlic (p = 0.023 for prevention), and chamomile (p = 0.011 for
 treatment). The respondents with COVID-19 (p &lt; 0.001), at older
 ages (p = 0.046), and with a family member or friend who had COVID-19 (p
 &lt; 0.001) used more plants for prevention. However, the respondents
 with technical or higher education used less plants for treatment (p
 &lt; 0.001). Conclusion: There was a significant use of medicinal
 plants for both prevention and treatment, which was associated with
 several population characteristics and whether respondents had COVID-19.
description: We
 conducted an online cross-sectional multicenter survey, which was
 initially evaluated by 10 expert judges using Aiken's V (40). After
 including the experts’ observations, a pilot study was performed (from
 August 16 to 4) with 336 respondents in in five districts of Cusco, Peru.
 The pilot data was used to calculate the minimal sample size necessary for
 the actual study. It was determined that a minimum sample size of 1,530
 was necessary to achieve a minimum percentage difference of 2.5% (49.0%
 versus 51.5%), a statistical power of 80%, and a confidence level of 95%.
 The sample size was calculated using power analysis. The actual
 survey consisted of an online questionnaire that was sent via WhatsApp,
 Messenger, and Facebook. The shared questionnaire was made anonymous
 ensuring data confidentiality and reliability. The survey was performed
 from August 31 to September 20, 2020 after approximately 9 months of
 lockdown and social distancing measures in Peru due to the COVID-19
 outbreak. At the beginning of the survey (August 31) the number of
 COVID-19 confirmed cases was 652,037 and 28,944 deaths, while at the end
 of the survey (September 20) the confirmed cases increased to 772,896 and
 the deaths increased to 31,474. We surveyed general public who were adults
 of both genders aged 20 to 70 years in five districts of Cusco, Peru with
 high-risk COVID-19 transmission according to the Epidemiological Alert
 AE-017-2020. The five districts were Cusco, San Jerónimo, San Sebastián,
 Santiago, and Wanchaq. Participants were recruited by the research team of
 the Universidad Nacional de San Antonio Abad del Cusco.
description: See the README file