Low uptake of COVID-19 prevention behaviours and high socioeconomic impact of lockdown measures in South Asia: Evidence from a large-scale multi-country surveillance programme.

Autor:	Kusuma D; Centre for Health Economics & Policy Innovation, Imperial College Business School, UK., Pradeepa R; Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India., Khawaja KI; Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan., Hasan M; BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh., Siddiqui S; Max Healthcare, New Delhi, India., Mahmood S; Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan., Ali Shah SM; Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, Pakistan., De Silva CK; Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka., de Silva L; Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka., Gamage M; Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka., Loomba M; Max Healthcare, New Delhi, India., Rajakaruna VP; Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka., Hanif AA; BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh., Kamalesh RB; Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India., Kumarendran B; Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, Jaffna, Sri Lanka., Loh M; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.; School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK., Misra A; Max Healthcare, New Delhi, India., Tassawar A; Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, Pakistan., Tyagi A; Max Healthcare, New Delhi, India., Waghdhare S; Max Healthcare, New Delhi, India., Burney S; Services Institute of Medical Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan., Ahmad S; Punjab Institute of Cardiology, Lahore, Pakistan., Mohan V; Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India., Sarker M; BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh., Goon IY; School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK., Kasturiratne A; Faculty of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Ragama, Sri Lanka., Kooner JS; National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK., Katulanda P; Faculty of Medicine, University of Colombo, Colombo, Sri Lanka., Jha S; Max Healthcare, New Delhi, India., Anjana RM; Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India., Mridha MK; BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health, BRAC University, Dhaka, Bangladesh., Sassi F; Centre for Health Economics & Policy Innovation, Imperial College Business School, UK., Chambers JC; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore.; School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	SSM - population health [SSM Popul Health] 2021 Feb 13; Vol. 13, pp. 100751. Date of Electronic Publication: 2021 Feb 13 (Print Publication: 2021).
DOI:	10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100751
Abstrakt:	Background: South Asia has become a major epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding South Asians' awareness, attitudes and experiences of early measures for the prevention of COVID-19 is key to improving the effectiveness and mitigating the social and economic impacts of pandemic responses at a critical time for the Region. Methods: We assessed the knowledge, behaviours, health and socio-economic circumstances of 29,809 adult men and women, at 93 locations across four South Asian countries. Data were collected during the national lockdowns implemented from March to July 2020, and compared with data collected prior to the pandemic as part of an ongoing prospective surveillance initiative. Results: Participants were 61% female, mean age 45.1 years. Almost half had one or more chronic disease, including diabetes (16%), hypertension (23%) or obesity (16%). Knowledge of the primary COVID-19 symptoms and transmission routes was high, but access to hygiene and personal protection resources was low (running water 63%, hand sanitisers 53%, paper tissues 48%). Key preventive measures were not widely adopted. Knowledge, access to, and uptake of COVID-19 prevention measures were low amongst people from disadvantaged socio-economic groups. Fifteen percent of people receiving treatment for chronic diseases reported loss of access to long-term medications; 40% reported symptoms suggestive of anxiety or depression. The prevalence of unemployment rose from 9.3% to 39.4% (P < 0.001), and household income fell by 52% (P < 0.001) during the lockdown. Younger people and those from less affluent socio-economic groups were most severely impacted. Sedentary time increased by 32% and inadequate fruit and vegetable intake increased by 10% (P < 0.001 for both), while tobacco and alcohol consumption dropped by 41% and 80%, respectively (P < 0.001), during the lockdown. Conclusions: Our results identified important knowledge, access and uptake barriers to the prevention of COVID-19 in South Asia, and demonstrated major adverse impacts of the pandemic on chronic disease treatment, mental health, health-related behaviours, employment and household finances. We found important sociodemographic differences for impact, suggesting a widening of existing inequalities. Our findings underscore the need for immediate large-scale action to close gaps in knowledge and access to essential resources for prevention, along with measures to safeguard economic production and mitigate socio-economic impacts on the young and the poor. Competing Interests: None. (© 2021 The Authors.)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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