Objective

Analyze the perception of the risk factors associated with the contagion of coronavirus in elders belonging to low-income districts in Lima Metropolitana (Perú).

Materials and Method

Qualitative study, with a phenomenological hermeneutical design. A total of 16 semi-structured interviews were conducted with elders aged 61 to 80, men and women, including infected and non-infected, between the months of August and September 2020. Likewise, the ATLAS.ti 7.5 software was used for data analysis.

Results

Perceptions were identified in the cognitive, experiential, sociocultural, trust and efficacy components. Furthermore, no differences were found in terms of risk perception between infected and non-infected people, however, regarding the subcategory of trust towards science, people who have contracted the virus presented higher negative perceptions, than those who have not been infected, who in turn, showed more positive perceptions of scientific advances.

Conclusions

The risk factors identified by elders were; not respecting social distancing, inappropriate use of masks and lack of personal hygiene. Likewise, the negative perceptions presented towards these risk factors were fear of contagion from oneself and from others, intranquility, worry, insecurity, distrust, lack of protection and the inability to face the virus, and in terms of positive perceptions, these were: tranquility, security, social support, family protection, hope and satisfaction.