2.1. Study Design

We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study, with the aim of determining the prevalence and factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress in university students from Paraguay during the period from June to August of the year 2021.

Data collection was conducted during the period from June 9 to 25 August 2021. Regarding the pandemic situation during this period, the number of new confirmed cases per day and number of registered deaths from COVID-19 were quite high. In the month of June, more than 1000 cases per day were confirmed, and from July 15, the number of new confirmed cases per day decreased to approximately 500 cases per day [23]. Likewise, the number of deaths from COVID-19 registered per day in the month of June exceeded 100 and a high mortality rate was recorded throughout the month of June [24,25].

Quarantine restrictions were softened during the first half of June, with the entire country entering phase 3 of the smart quarantine. At the end of July, the country entered phase 4 of the smart quarantine. During phase 3, people could move freely within the national territory, with a curfew from 23:00 to 05:00. In phase 4, the rules regarding enclosed places and the number of people who could stay in different places were made to be more flexible [26].

Throughout the data collection period, students had classes through digital platforms and some face-to-face field practices in small groups with all the sanitary measures imposed by the country’s health ministry [26].