Preventive measures for COVID-19 among dental students and dentists during the mandatory social isolation in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020

Background. Dentistry is one of the professions that are most exposed to the contagion with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, the prevalence and positivity rates of COVID-19 are low in dentists, indicating that the current measures of infection control may be sufficient to prevent infection in dental settings. Objectives. The aim of the study was to determine whether the preventive measures for COVID-19 during the mandatory social isolation were followed by dental students and dentists in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted using anonymous virtual surveys in a convenience sample of 2,036 dental students and dentists from 21 Latin American and Caribbean coun-tries. The variables were the preventive measures for COVID-19 and the sociodemographic characteristics. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. Results. The final sample included 2,036 dental students and dentists. The self-perceived level of knowledge about COVID-19 was found to be associated with age, sex, body mass index (BMI), the type of academic training, having a specialty in the case of professionals, the place of origin, and having met someone with COVID-19 (p < 0.05). The self-perceived level of concern regarding COVID-19 was associated with sex, BMI and having met someone with COVID-19 (p < 0.05). The number of days in the mandatory social isolation was associated with age, the type of academic training, having a specialty, the place of origin, and having met someone with COVID-19 (p < 0.05). The confinement level was associated with age, sex, BMI, the type of academic training, and having met someone with COVID-19 (p < 0.05). Following the preventive measures for COVID-19 was associated with age, the type of academic training, having a specialty, the place of origin, and having met someone with COVID-19 (p < 0.05). The use of face masks, hand washing and social distancing were associated with age, BMI, the type of academic training, the place of origin, and having met someone with COVID-19 (p < 0.05). Conclusions. Dental students and dentists followed the preventive measures for COVID-19 during the mandatory social isolation period in Latin America and the Caribbean in 2020.