The need for a holistic approach toward pandemic control: lessons from a cross-sectional study on COVID-19 in Meghalaya, India.
J Public Health Policy
; 43(4): 515-529, 2022 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-36376454
ABSTRACT
We conducted a community-based cross-sectional survey of 416 participants from Meghalaya, India to assess knowledge, perceptions, and practices toward recommended COVID-19 preventive measures, and to explore health-seeking behavior and stigma during early phase of the pandemic. Most participants had knowledge of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 (94%) and its spread (96%), and reported positive behavior change such as handwashing ≥ 6 times/day (41% pre-COVID-19 vs. 81% during COVID-19, P < 0.001), sneezing or coughing into sleeves (65% pre-COVID-19 vs. 89% during COVID-19, P < 0.001) and staying home if having flu-like symptoms (44% pre-COVID-19 vs. 94% during COVID-19, P < 0.001). We found delayed healthcare seeking for non-COVID-19 illnesses (16%). Fear of losing life was reported by 26% participants, as was discrimination toward migrant returnees, with 35% blaming returnees for the spread of COVID-19. We highlight the need for a holistic approach toward pandemic control, including social and mental health interventions, in public health strategies.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Pandemias
/
COVID-19
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
Limite:
Humans
País como assunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article