scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 and strategies for mitigation and suppression in low- and middle-income countries

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. eabc0035 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick G. T. Walker ◽  
Charles Whittaker ◽  
Oliver J Watson ◽  
Marc Baguelin ◽  
Peter Winskill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
System Capacity ◽  
Lower Income ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Contact Patterns ◽  
Limited Health ◽  
Lower Income Countries ◽  
The Impact

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic poses a severe threat to public health worldwide. We combine data on demography, contact patterns, disease severity, and health care capacity and quality to understand its impact and inform strategies for its control. Younger populations in lower income countries may reduce overall risk but limited health system capacity coupled with closer inter-generational contact largely negates this benefit. Mitigation strategies that slow but do not interrupt transmission will still lead to COVID-19 epidemics rapidly overwhelming health systems, with substantial excess deaths in lower income countries due to the poorer health care available. Of countries that have undertaken suppression to date, lower income countries have acted earlier. However, this will need to be maintained or triggered more frequently in these settings to keep below available health capacity, with associated detrimental consequences for the wider health, well-being and economies of these countries.

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 on the Care of Patients With Noncommunicable Diseases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: An Online Survey of Patient Perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 237437352110340
Author(s):  
Ratna Devi ◽  
Felicity Goodyear-Smith ◽  
Kannan Subramaniam ◽  
Jessica McCormack ◽  
Amanda Calder ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Noncommunicable Diseases ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Mental Well Being ◽  
Low And Middle Income

We sought to gain insights into the impacts of COVID-19 and associated control measures on health and health care of patients from low- and middle-income countries with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mental health conditions, using an online survey during the COVID-19 pandemic. The most common concern for the 1487 patients who took part was contracting COVID-19 when they accessed health care. Of those infected with COVID-19, half said that their health had been worse since being infected. Collectively, most people reported an increase in feelings of stress and loneliness. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a range of health care impacts on patients with noncommunicable diseases, including constraints on access to care and health effects, particularly mental well-being.

scholarly journals Family Physicians’ Standpoint and Mental Health Assessment in the Light of COVID-19 Pandemic—A Nationwide Survey Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 2093
Author(s):  
Tina Vilovic ◽  
Josko Bozic ◽  
Marino Vilovic ◽  
Doris Rusic ◽  
Sanja Zuzic Furlan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Perceived Stress ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Family Physicians ◽  
Knowledge Score ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Event Scale ◽  
The Impact

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, family physicians (FPs) are the backbone of the healthcare system with considerable impact on the general population, and their well-being is of great importance. The aim of this investigation was to assess FPs mental health, as well as knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAPs) regarding the pandemic, and opinions on non-communicable disease (NCD) health care provided to patients. A cross-sectional study was carried out with a sample of 613 FPs. Anxiety and depression levels were estimated with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, subjective perceived stress with the Perceived Stress Scale, while trauma-related symptoms were assessed using the Impact on Event Scale-COVID19. KAPs toward the pandemic and opinions regarding NCD patients were evaluated with questionnaires accordingly. Results have shown that age (β = −0.02, p = 0.013) and personal risk of COVID‑19 (β = 1.05, p < 0.001) were significant independent correlates of the knowledge score. A total of 87.7% FPs expressed moderate/high perceived stress, 45.2% moderate/severe trauma-related symptoms, 60.4% borderline/abnormal anxiety levels, and 52.4% borderline/abnormal depression levels. Knowledge score was an independent predictor of perceived stress (β = −0.33, p = 0.023) and anxiety (β = −0.31, p = 0.006) levels. Limited accessibility to healthcare services and decreased number of newly-diagnosed NCD cases were mostly agreed on. The pandemic puts a considerable strain on FPs mental health, as well as on public health measures, due to the decreased overall quality of NCD patient health care. Educational programs may bridge the gaps between FPs’ knowledge. Thus lowering anxiety and improving patient care.

scholarly journals Psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic in low-income and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study of older persons in Thailand

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e047650
Author(s):  
Wiraporn Pothisiri ◽  
Paolo Miguel Manalang Vicerra
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Older Persons ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Secondary Outcome ◽  
Ageing Society ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
The Impact

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 situation in Thailand was controlled with various social measures. Much of the information covered in the media and in studies focused on the public health and economic aspects of the pandemic. This study aimed to explore the psychological well-being of older people, which is important especially in an ageing society categorised as low income or middle income due to the limits of economic and healthcare resources.SettingThe impact of COVID-19 on older persons in Thailand, an online survey, taken across nine provinces within the five regions of the country.ParticipantsInformation was collected from 1230 adults aged at least 60 years old.If an older person was illiterate, unable to access the internet or had a disability preventing them from responding to the survey, an intermediary residing in the community conducted the survey interview.Primary and secondary outcome measuresThe analysis focused on the worries of older adults and the factors associated with psychological distress experienced during the pandemic using logistic regression analysis.ResultsThe majority of people aged at least 60 years old experienced psychological distress during COVID-19. Employment loss (OR 1.08, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.38), inadequate income (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.28 to 2.44) and debt incursion (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.57 to 4.80) were detrimental to psychological well-being. The negative changes in the perception of their health status (OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.23 to 2.99) and decreased life satisfaction (OR 1.49, 95% CI 0.45 to 1.87) also weighed on older Thais. The protective factors for psychological well-being were residing in rural areas (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.35 to 0.61) and being married (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.55 to 1.01).ConclusionObserving the concerns of the older population is important for introducing policies that can alleviate their precarious financial and health statuses.

scholarly journals Enhancing Employees’ Performance through Organizational Care Policies in the Health Care Context

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 5
Author(s):  
Andrea Tomo ◽  
Lucio Todisco
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Employee Motivation ◽  
Performance Outcomes ◽  
Monetary Incentives ◽  
Work Involvement ◽  
Health Care Context ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Conceptual Study ◽  
The Impact

Literature is increasingly recognizing that organizations must combine themes of care and concern with more established economic objectives. This conceptual study will expand on this literature by considering how expressions of organizational care toward employees, by improving their well-being, may influence their motivation, work involvement and, in turn, improve performance. In more detail, by extending the conceptual framework developed by Bonner & Sprinkle (2001), it is argued that managers should take into account the impact, not only of monetary and non-monetary incentives, but even of other caring policies, on employee motivation and performance outcomes. On this ground, this study develops a theoretical model on how organizational care may help employees in expressing their work potential and enhancing their performance. The model is developed within the health care context since its particular setting that strongly affects employees’ well-being.

scholarly journals COVID-19 pandemics modeling with SEIR(+CAQH), social distancing, and age stratification. The effect of vertical confinement and release in Brazil

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wladimir Lyra ◽  
José-Dias do Nascimento ◽  
Jaber Belkhiria ◽  
Leandro de Almeida ◽  
Pedro Paulo M. Chrispim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Nonlinear Differential Equations ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Monte Carlo Algorithm ◽  
System Capacity ◽  
Exit Strategy ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Care System

AbstractThe ongoing COVID-19 epidemics poses a particular challenge to low and middle income countries, making some of them consider the strategy of “vertical confinement”. In this strategy, contact is reduced only to specific groups (like age groups) that are at increased risk of severe disease following SARS-CoV-2 infection. We aim to assess the feasibility of this scenario as an exit strategy for the current lockdown in terms of its ability to keep the number of cases under the health care system capacity. We developed a modified SEIR model, including confinement, asymptomatic transmission, quarantine and hospitalization. The population is subdivided into 9 age groups, resulting in a system of 72 coupled nonlinear differential equations. The rate of transmission is dynamic and derived from the observed delayed fatality rate; the parameters of the epidemics are derived with a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. We used Brazil as an example of middle income country, but the results are easily generalizable to other countries considering a similar strategy. We find that starting from 60% horizontal confinement, an exit strategy on May 1st of confinement of individuals older than 60 years old and full release of the younger population results in 400 000 hospitalizations, 50 000 ICU cases, and 120 000 deaths in the 50-60 years old age group alone. The health care system avoids collapse if the 50-60 years old are also confined, but our model assumes an idealized lockdown where the confined are perfectly insulated from contamination, so our numbers are a conservative lower bound. Our results discourage confinement by age as an exit strategy.

scholarly journals Efficacy of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention on the psychological well-being of health care professionals and trainees during the COVID-19 pandemic: A mixed method design

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iram Osman ◽  
Shaista Hamid ◽  
Veena S. Singaram
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Mixed Method ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Personal Accomplishment ◽  
Intervention Analysis ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
The Impact

Background: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, health professionals were pushed to the front line of a global health crisis unprepared and resource constrained, which affected their mental well-being.Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of a brief online mindfulness-based intervention (MBI) on stress and burnout for health professionals training and working in South Africa during the COVID-19 crisis.Setting: The context of the study is the overburdened, under-resourced health care system in South Africa during a global pandemic.Methods: A mixed method framework was adopted for this study. The quantitative data was analysed using descriptive analysis and the participants’ qualitative experiences were interpreted using interpretative phenomenological analysis.Results: Forty-seven participants took part in this study. The study found a statistically significant (p 0.05) reduction in stress levels and emotional exhaustion as well as an increase in mindful awareness and feelings of personal accomplishment after the intervention. The participants’ shared experiences were analysed in two parts. The pre-intervention analysis presented with central themes of loss of control and a sense of powerlessness because of COVID-19. The post-intervention analysis comprised themes of a sense of acquired control and empowerment through increased mindfulness.Conclusions: The study found that a brief online MBI can be associated with reduced levels of stress and burnout as well as an increased sense of control and empowerment, felt both personally and professionally, during a global crisis.Contribution: The impact of an online MBI for health care professionals amidst a pandemic has not been previously documented.

scholarly journals Komunitas Masyarakat Dan Perawatan Kesehatan Dalam Peningkatan Kualitas Hidup

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-24
Author(s):  
Agustinus Hermino
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Quality ◽  
Health Sector ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Care Quality ◽  
Global Era ◽  
The Impact

Latar belakang: Seiring dengan perkembangan jaman, dalam beberapa tahun terakhir ini banyak perhatian yang difokuskan pada eksplorasi dampak penyakit fisik dan mental pada kualitas hidup seseorang baik secara individu maupun masyarakat secara keseluruhan. Sifat subyektif dari 'kualitas hidup' individu, merupakan konsep yang dinamis untuk diukur dan didefinisikan, tetapi bahwa secara umum dapat dipandang sebagai konsep multidimensi yang menekankan pada persepsi diri dari keadaan pikiran seseorang saat iniTujuan: penulisan ini bertujuan untuk memberikan pemahaman tentang peran masyarakat dalam memahani pentingnya kesehatan di era global ditinjau dari perspektif akademis. Pada sektor kesehatan pemahaman kesehatan menjadi sangat pentingnya karena akan menunjukkan pada kualitas hidup seseorang, tetapi hal ini tidak cukup secara individu karena diperlukan pemahaman secara menyeluruh terhadap masyarakat tentang makna kesehatan dan perawatan kesehatan.Metode: penulisan ilmiah ini adalah dengan melakukan analisa akademis dari dari berbagai sumber rujukan relevan sehingga menemukan makna teoritis baru dalam rangka menjawab tantangan yang terjadi di masyarakat.Hasil: Berdasarkan berbagai sumber rujukan yang ada, dapat disimpulkan bahwa kesehatan merupakan gaya hidup yang bertujuan untuk mencapai kesejahteraan fisik, emosional, intelektual, spiritual, dan lingkungan. Penggunaan langkah-langkah kesehatan dapat meningkatkan stamina, energi, dan harga diri, kemudian meningkatkan kualitas hidup. Dengan demikian maka konsep kesehatan memungkinkan adanya variabilitas individu. Kesehatan dapat dianggap sebagai keseimbangan aspek fisik, emosional, psikologis, sosial dan spiritual dari kehidupan seseorang. Kata kunci: masyarakat, perawatan kesehatan, kualitas hidup Society Community and Health Care in Improving Quality of LifeAbstract Background: Along with the development of the era, in recent years there has been a lot of attention focused on exploring the impact of physical and mental illness on the quality of life of a person both individually and as a whole. The subjective nature of an individual's 'quality of life' is a dynamic concept to measure and define, but that in general can be seen as a multidimensional concept that emphasizes self-perception of one's current state of mindAim: purpose of this study is to provide an understanding the role of community in understanding the importance of health in the global era from an academic perspective. In the health sector understanding of health is very important because it will show the quality of life of a person, but this is not enough individually because a comprehensive understanding of the meaning of health and health care is needed. Method: The method of scientific writing is to carry out academic analysis from various relevant reference sources, and find new theoretical meanings in order to answer the challenges that occur in society. Keyword: Community, Society,Health Care, Quality oflife Resullt : Based on various academic reference, it can be concluded that health is a lifestyle that aims to achieve physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, and environmental well-being. The use of health measures can increase stamina, energy, and self-esteem, then improve the quality of life. Thus the concept of health allows for individual variability. Health can be considered as a balance of physical, emotional, psychological, social and spiritual aspects of one's life. Keywords: community, health care, quality of life 

scholarly journals Using Systems Dynamics for Capturing the Multicausality of Factors Affecting Health System Capacity in Latin America while Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 10002
Author(s):  
Kathya Lorena Cordova-Pozo ◽  
Hubert P. L. M. Korzilius ◽  
Etiënne A. J. A. Rouwette ◽  
Gabriela Píriz ◽  
Rolando Herrera-Gutierrez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Mediation Effect ◽  
System Capacity ◽  
Effective Response ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Mediation Effects ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Strong Relation ◽  
The Impact

Similar interventions to stop the spread of COVID-19 led to different outcomes in Latin American countries. This study aimed to capture the multicausality of factors affecting HS-capacity that could help plan a more effective response, considering health as well as social aspects. A facilitated GMB was constructed by experts and validated with a survey from a wider population. Statistical analyses estimated the impact of the main factors to the HS-capacity and revealed the differences in its mechanisms. The results show a similar four-factor structure in all countries that includes public administration, preparedness, information, and collective self-efficacy. The factors are correlated and have mediating effects with HS-capacity; this is the base for differences among countries. HS-capacity has a strong relation with public administration in Bolivia, while in Nicaragua and Uruguay it is related through preparedness. Nicaragua lacks information as a mediation effect with HS-capacity whereas Bolivia and Uruguay have, respectively, small and large mediation effects with it. These outcomes increase the understanding of the pandemic based on country-specific context and can aid policymaking in low-and middle-income countries by including these factors in future pandemic response models.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 on the mental health of healthcare workers in different regions of the world

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S258-S258
Author(s):  
Mahfuja Islam ◽  
Philip George ◽  
Sindhu Sankaran ◽  
Janet Leu Su Hui ◽  
Tzun Kit
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Assessment ◽  
Survey Tool ◽  
Frontline Workers ◽  
The World ◽  
The Impact

AimsThe global health system is facing a serious challenge after the recent outbreak of COVID-19 coronavirus infection which was first identified in Wuhan, China in November 2019 and declared as a pandemic in March 2020 by WHO. There is a wide consensus that this pandemic has negative psychosocial consequences as well as unforeseeable provision of mental health care services and just not on physical health alone. The aim of this research study is to determine the prevalence of psychological distress and to identify the sociodemographic variables with the main attributable factors associated with the psychological distress among healthcare workers and suggestions on how to reduce the impact on the mental health of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in different regions of the world.MethodWe performed a cross-sectional study from September-November 2020. We used a self-administered survey tool which was distributed electronically to healthcare workers across the globe. The data were stored on an online database with password protected devices where survey responses were restricted to investigators exclusively.Data collected were: 1) Socio-demographic data (age, gender, marital status, ethnicity, religion, role in the healthcare, region of practice); 2) Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI) questionnaire which contains 22 standardized items. This is a subjective assessment to score the degree of psychological well-being by focusing on 6 domains: depression; anxiety; positive-well-being; self-control; vitality and general health; 3) Subjective assessment from respondents of the main attributable factors causing psychological distress and suggested methods to help reduce the impact on mental health on health care workers.ResultMajority out of the 217 respondents were from a younger age group; females and married/domestic partnership, mainly from Western Pacific Region, South East Asian and the African Region. More than half the respondents were moderate-severely psychologically distressed and the three main attributable factors causing psychological distress were: fear of family/friends contracting COVID-19 followed by lack of PPE and discomfort caused by wearing PPE for long hours. Respondents suggested that the distress would be reduced if: more resources were provided in hospital; protocols and guidelines were implemented and counselling facilities with recreational activities were available to frontline workers.ConclusionThis study showed that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the mental health of healthcare workers and more support or strategies need to come in place to protect frontline workers at the time of crises.

Voices of Nurses During the Covid-19 Pandemic: A Call to Action

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 88-93
Author(s):  
Mary Jo Kreitzer
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Organizations ◽  
Negative Emotions ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Educational Institutions ◽  
Systemic Racism ◽  
Call To Action ◽  
Long Run ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Bounce Back

The Covid-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on the well-being of nurses and has exacerbated long-standing issues of stress and burnout. Expecting or hoping that nurses will recover quickly or bounce back from the stress and deep trauma of the pandemic is not realistic. Each nurse has a story, and while these stories may have similar themes, they are all different. It is important to reflect on our stories, identify the myriad of emotions we are experiencing, and find ways to work through our feelings. Ignoring, denying, or suppressing feelings does not serve us well in the long run. Stifling negative emotions does not make them go away. A Call to Action is needed to address the impact of the pandemic, clinician burnout, and systemic racism on health-care organizations and educational institutions. Strategies are identified that will support personal and organizational well-being.

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