Hayat Kimya Publishes Comprehensive Pandemic Research Report

Hayat Kimya Releases Comprehensive Pandemic Research Report Evony, the personal health brand of Hayat Kimya, has endorsed the research report "Changing Life; Pandemic and Turkey 2020-2022," prepared by Konda Research & Consulting, which examines the two years Turkey spent under pandemic conditions. Evony, the personal health brand of Hayat Kimya, unveiled Turkey's pandemic research report "Changing Life; Pandemic and Turkey 2020-2022" on Thursday, 10 March, through an online press conference moderated by Açelya Akkoyun and attended by Hayat Kimya Global Marketing Director Gülhan Eğilmez, Konda General Manager Bekir Ağırdır and Prof. Dr. Veysel Bozkurt. The research, conducted by Konda Research & Consulting Company to understand society's perspective on the Covid-19 outbreak that has shaped life for two years, views on mask use, opinions regarding vaccination, and the economies and moods affected during the process, is supported by a series of in-depth interviews and presents a striking picture of the pandemic's past, present and future in Turkey from the public's perspective. The report prepared by Konda Research & Consulting Company used data from 22 different field studies. Each research was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 3,600 people in neighborhoods and villages determined through samples representing Turkey's adult population. To support quantitative data with qualitative data and to more comprehensively understand the experiences of people during the pandemic period, a study titled "Changing Mental Maps of the Pandemic Period" was carried out. Additionally, in February 2022, in-depth interviews were conducted with citizens from 26 different profiles to support numerical findings with individual testimonies. Hayat Kimya Global Marketing Director Gülhan Eğilmez, emphasizing that this report, which reveals the manifestation of two years of major transformation in our lives, is a study of a quality to pass into societal literature, stated: "As Evony, a trusted companion to consumers during the pandemic, we witnessed that understanding people and immediately responding to their needs during the Covid-19 period of uncertainty was of vital importance. During this period we went through, we experienced rapid and sometimes painful major transformations in many areas, from our approach to health to our daily habits, from our economic conditions to our view of the environment, our psychology and our working lives. Through the "Changing Life; Pandemic and Turkey 2020-2022" research conducted with Konda Research & Consulting Company, Turkey's first and only comprehensive report on the pandemic period, we wanted to present data that reflects this unprecedented and critical period of our lives to the entire public for future benefit. We implemented this study that would serve as a reference for all segments of the public, from students to healthcare workers and social scientists. I extend my thanks to Bekir Ağırdır and Prof. Dr. Veysel Bozkurt for their support in depicting this transformation with data," he said. Bekir Ağırdır, General Manager of Konda Research & Consulting Company, which signed the most comprehensive research conducted in Turkey on the past, present and future of the pandemic, also addressed the lessons learned from the pandemic at the meeting held before 11 March: "We created the 'Changing Life: Pandemic and Turkey 2020-2022' report both through Konda Barometer, which Konda Research & Consulting regularly conducts, and through in-depth interviews conducted specifically with Evony in February. The report that was created is based on two years of extensive research data, blended with valuable information such as what changed in our mental maps, and belongs to Turkey's most comprehensive research on how the pandemic affected our lives. According to the report's findings, there are certainly many things the pandemic has taught us. The first and perhaps the most important is that we need institutions that will produce global solutions to global problems. Furthermore, as humanity we desperately need information and trust. At the same time, we all learned to take care of our lives. We also learned to empathize and show solidarity. Our sensitivity to health matters has increased. And another important thing is that we experienced firsthand that security is not merely a military matter. We understood the importance of public health security." Prof. Dr. Veysel Bozkurt, noting that quality research conducted by reliable institutions contributes to reducing uncertainty in the public mind, stated: "When humanity faced a new virus, the sense of ontological security was deeply shaken. Fears of death, contracting the virus and losing loved ones increased. Uncertainty drove people to seek power and predictability. Since initially even scientists did not have sufficient information, conflicting interpretations were made with incomplete data. In a period described as the "post-truth age," infodemic (misinformation) became one of the world's most serious problems. Conspiracy theories, which had been on an increasing trend before the pandemic, increased to unprecedented levels with the pandemic. More than two-thirds of society consists of reasonable people who trust science and vaccines. This group supported measures such as masks, distancing and hygiene from the beginning and continues to take precautions. However, there is a segment of society whose sense of trust has been shaken and which is under the influence of the infodemic. The most important criterion for destroying this uncertainty in society is the continued flow of transparent information from reliable institutions," he said.

Precautions continue

One of the most important data from the research is that despite recent relaxation of measures, people have not given up taking precautions against the virus. While the proportion of those continuing to wear masks and frequently wash their hands, who refrain from going out unless necessary and do not use public transportation, reaches 88 percent, the proportion of those saying they take no precautions remains only 12 percent. According to December 2021 data, society agrees that coronavirus is still dangerous. While 48 percent state that the risk of contracting Covid-19 is still very high, 19 percent say they find it risky. Only 5 percent of society believes the danger has passed. People still hesitate to shake hands or hug.

Mask-wearing requirement approved

The data from the "Changing Life; Pandemic and Turkey 2020-2022" research and in-depth one-on-one interviews show that the general public's inclination to wear masks during the outbreak was almost never abandoned. Over 95 percent of society used masks to protect themselves from coronavirus during this period. More than 99 percent of survey participants approve of the requirement to wear masks in markets and shopping centers. Since the summer months, mask use has become part of society's general transition to a period of relaxation in outbreak conditions. The October measurement itself shows that people who contracted coronavirus wore masks more, and by February, similar rates of mask use were observed in both situations. People's attitudes toward masks are generally cautious. Because due to information pollution regarding vaccines, those who approach vaccines cautiously also trust the protective qualities of masks. The perception that masks must be worn despite vaccination has taken root in minds. Society now sees mask use as a compulsory habit. Throughout the outbreak, those with more contact with the streets showed more tendency to wear masks. Nevertheless, mask use declined most rapidly in the 15-17 age group. Other age groups wear masks at almost the same rate. On the other hand, since 2 March, when new decisions on masks, tests, quarantine and HES codes were announced, mask sales have been observed to decline only by 20 percent.

57 percent of society has encountered the virus

The proportion of people in the general public who have family members or near or distant relatives who have fallen ill with coronavirus showed an increasingly upward trend. Today, 57 percent of society says they have at least one person in their family or close circle who has fallen ill with coronavirus. In addition, the number of people who have had coronavirus cases in their homes increased most between March-May 2021, before the full lockdown period, and after October 2021. Today, 1 in 2 people say they have at least one person at home who has fallen ill with coronavirus.

70 percent of society says they haven't contracted Covid-19 "by chance"!

According to December 2021 data, 70 percent of society says they have not contracted Covid-19. In-depth interviews support this data. There are those who explain not having contracted the disease to date through precautions they took, as well as those who explain it through luck or fate.

Women are more cautious

During the outbreak, women showed a tendency to go out less than before the outbreak compared to men. During each period of relaxation experienced by society, men began to go out more. During the outbreak, women behaved more cautiously toward coronavirus than men. Currently, 36 percent of women and 23 percent of men say they do not go out unless necessary. Young people always tended to go out more. Those in the 15-17 age group showed faster relaxation and normalization tendencies after the curfew imposed specifically on them was lifted. However, due to the effects of coronavirus precautions, those who refrain from going out unless necessary were most common among those 65 and older. Currently, 45 percent of those 65 and older do not go out unless necessary.

Vaccination rates rising

At the end of 2020, regarding the coronavirus vaccine, the position was that anyone who wished could receive the vaccine and that vaccination should not be mandatory. 27 out of every 100 people thought vaccination should be made mandatory. With the increasing number of people warming to the idea of vaccination, the proportion of those who got vaccinated when the time came also increased. There were those who got vaccinated of their own volition; as well as those who got vaccinated due to the HES code requirement to watch matches, enter shopping malls. In interviews, in the context of trust in countries, the proportion of those saying "I would only get the Turkish vaccine" as a transfer was also quite high. 2 out of every 5 people would have preferred to get the vaccine developed in Turkey if given the choice, and 1 out of every 4 stated they would prefer the vaccine developed in Germany. According to September 2021 data, 66 percent of society said they had received all vaccines when their turn came and would receive others if necessary. When vaccination began, both those who got vaccinated and those who did not continued to wear masks at similar rates. Since September 2021, the tendency to wear masks among those vaccinated has been higher than among those not vaccinated. Additionally, those vaccinated against coronavirus show more precautionary behavior toward the virus, also seen in the use of hand disinfectant and similar liquids. Despite the downward trend in recent months, more than half of those vaccinated and more than two-fifths of those not vaccinated use hand disinfectant.

Fastest normalization in public transportation

The coronavirus precaution that society has most rapidly normalized as a result of necessity is the use of public transportation. Until January 2022, men had more tendency to use public transportation, while in February 2022, women and men's public transportation usage rates equalized. Those saying they did not use public transportation as a coronavirus precaution equalized at 17 percent among women and men by the second year. However, currently 1 in every 5 people aged 49 and older avoids using public transportation.

Perception of return to normal after the outbreak

Although people agree on returning to normal after the outbreak, they all assign different timeframes to it. Some say within a year, others say we can return to our normal lives within two to three years. However, there are those who believe that global epidemics are not temporary and we will now always experience outbreaks at this rate, as well as those saying "life is already running normally." One of those affected by coronavirus is eating habits. People now pay more attention to their diet and benefit more from supplementary foods and additional nutrients. Plant-based nutrition, the use of various vitamins and oils, particularly has entered the agenda and budgets of women with children. Source