Social Stigma and other Consequences of COVID-19 Pandemic in Low Resource Setting, in Eastern Africa: Need to Increase Preventive Efforts and Addressing the Consequences, 2020
Abstract
Since the emergency of COVID-19 pandemics, many countries have been encountered a multitude of challenges. People have been facing health related and other social consequences throughout the world. It is too early to know the aggravated impact of COVID-19 on people living in resource-limited setting, like east Africa countries. In these countries, besides direct public health impact, the COVID-19 pandemic has provoked social stigma and discriminatory behaviors against people of certain ethnic backgrounds as well as anyone perceived to have been in contact with the virus. Social stigma can negatively affect those with the disease, as well as their caregivers, family, friends and communities.COVID-19 pandemics have also been provoked great impacts on daily social consumptions such as food and other food supplements. In addition, COVID-19 pandemic were overshadowed endemics diseases such as malaria, TB and HIV related care and antenatal care services as well as other non-communicable diseases prevention and control. Social stigma coupled with other consequences could result in more severe health problems, can undermine social cohesion and prompt possible social isolation of groups, which might contribute to a situation where the virus is more, not less, likely to spread and difficulties controlling a disease outbreak. Therefore, how we communicate about COVID-19 is critical in supporting people to take effective action to help combat the disease and to avoid fuelling fear and stigma. An environment needs to be created in which the disease and its impact can be discussed and addressed openly, honestly and effectively. This is a message for government, media and local organizations working on the COVID-19 infections.
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Introduction
With the emergency of new corona virus strain (COVID-19), various symptoms such as pneumonia, fever, breathing difficulty, and lung infections are the main heath problems worldwide [1, 2]. Since December 2019, cases of pneumonia of unknown etiology have been confirmed in Wuhan city, Hubei Province, China. As the 2019-nCoV is a newly identified pathogen responsible for the outbreak of the pandemic disease, there is no sufficient evidence to reveal the whole nature of this virus [3-6].
Starting March 2020, the WHO detected community transmission in some African countries (including Ethiopia) and the risk to spreading COVID-19 is due in large part to deep challenges in practicing social distancing and frequent hand washing in settings of high population density and lack of running water, as well as the non-specific symptoms of covid-19 that make it difficult to differentiate from endemic illnesses such as pneumonia, malaria and influenza [7-10].
Conclusion
The main direction as the prevention measures of social consequences due to COVID-19 includes;
Evidence clearly shows that stigma and fear around communicable diseases hamper the response. What works is building trust in reliable health services and advice, showing empathy with those affected, understanding the disease itself, and adopting effective, practical measures so people can help keep themselves and their loved ones safe. How we communicate about COVID-19 is critical in supporting people to take effective action to help combat the disease and to avoid fuelling fear and stigma.
Stigma can be heightened by insufficient knowledge about how the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is transmitted and treated, and how to prevent infection. Therefore, prioritizing the collection, consolidation and dissemination of accurate country- and community-specific information about affected areas, individual and group vulnerability to COVID- 19, treatment options and where to access health care and information are essentials.
When talking about COVID- 19 infections, certain words (i.e. suspect case, isolation…) and language may have a negative meaning for people and fuel stigmatizing attitudes. This can drive people away from getting screened, tested and quarantined.