Surprising Gendered Age Differences in Rural Malawians’ Early COVID-19 Pandemic Prevention Efforts

TL;DR

This study explores how age and gender influence COVID-19 prevention behaviors in rural Malawi, revealing surprising differences in actions taken by mature women and younger men.

Contribution

The study identifies gendered age differences in low-cost and high-cost prevention behaviors and vaccination likelihood in rural Malawi.

Findings

Mature women and younger men with mature adults in their households were less likely to comply with low-cost prevention actions.

Mature men were more likely than younger men to take high-cost prevention actions.

Experiencing a recent family death increased the likelihood of high-cost actions and vaccination.

Abstract

We assess how age, the presence of mature adults aged 45+ years, and recent deaths in rural households are associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) preventative actions and the likelihood of getting vaccinated against the virus in Malawi during early stages of the pandemic.

We draw upon data from 2,187 rural Malawians who participated in a 2020 COVID-19 Phone Survey. We estimate the log odds of engaging in “low-cost” and “high-cost” COVID-19 preventative actions based on age, gender, household composition, and recent household deaths. Low-cost prevention efforts were washing hands with soap and water frequently, avoiding close contact with people when going out, and avoiding shaking hands. High-cost actions included staying at home and decreasing time spent close to people not living in their household. We also estimate the chances of acquiring the COVID-19 vaccine in early stages of its availability.

Mature women (45+ years) in general and younger men (<45 years)—living with at least one mature adult in the household—were less likely than others to comply with low-cost actions. Mature men were more likely than younger men (<45 years) to take on high-cost actions. To some extent, individuals who experienced a recent family death were more likely to engage in high-cost COVID-19 preventative actions as well as getting vaccinated.

Gendered age differences in preventing the transmission of COVID-19 offer hints of larger social norms affecting protective efforts. The analyses also inform future COVID-19 public health outreach efforts in Malawi and other rural SSA contexts.