SARS-CoV-2 and self-medication in Cameroon: a mathematical model.
J Biol Dyn
; 15(1): 137-150, 2021 12.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1062817
ABSTRACT
Self-medication is an important initial response to illness in Africa. This mode of medication is often done with the help of African traditional medicines. Because of the misconception that African traditional medicines can cure/prevent all diseases, some Africans may opt for COVID-19 prevention and management by self-medicating. Thus to efficiently predict the dynamics of COVID-19 in Africa, the role of the self-medicated population needs to be taken into account. In this paper, we formulate and analyse a mathematical model for the dynamics of COVID-19 in Cameroon. The model is represented by a system of compartmental age-structured ODEs that takes into account the self-medicated population and subdivides the human population into two age classes relative to their current immune system strength. We use our model to propose policy measures that could be implemented in the course of an epidemic in order to better handle cases of self-medication.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Self Medication
/
Models, Statistical
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Traditional medicine
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
Africa
Language:
English
Journal:
J Biol Dyn
Journal subject:
Biology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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