Economic and social impacts of COVID-19 and public health measures: results from an anonymous online survey in Thailand, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Italy and Slovenia

Abstract

In the absence of a vaccine and widely available treatments for COVID-19, governments have relied primarily on non-pharmaceutical interventions to curb the pandemic. To aid understanding of the impact of these public health measures on different social groups we conducted a mixed-methods study in five countries ('SEBCOV' - Social, ethical and behavioural aspects of COVID-19). Here we report the results of the SEBCOV anonymous online survey of adults. Overall, 5,058 respondents from Thailand, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, Italy and Slovenia completed the self-administered survey between May and June 2020. Post-stratification weighting was applied, and associations between categorical variables assessed. Among the five countries, Thai respondents appeared to have been most, and Slovenian respondents least, affected economically. Overall, lower education levels, larger households, having children under 18 in the household, being 65 years or older and having flexible/no income were associated with worse economic impact. Regarding social impact, respondents expressed most concern about their social life, physical health, and mental health and wellbeing. There were large differences between countries in terms of voluntary behavioural change, and in compliance and agreement with COVID-19 restrictions. Overall, self-reported compliance was higher among respondents reporting a high understanding of COVID-19. UK respondents felt able to cope the longest and Thai respondents the shortest with only going out for essential needs or work, with 60% and 26% respectively able to cope with 29 days or longer. Many respondents reported seeing news that seemed fake to them, the proportion varying between countries, and with education level and self-reported levels of understanding of COVID-19. Our data showed that COVID-19 public health measures have uneven economic and social impacts on people from different countries and social groups. Understanding the factors associated with these impacts can help to inform future public health interventions and mitigate their negative consequences on people's lives.

The impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on the lived experiences of people living in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom: A cross-country qualitative study

“…Here we describe results from a qualitative study, which was part of a mixed-methods study (SEB-COV) that also included an online survey [29]. The quantitative results are reported elsewhere [11].…”

“…Emerging evidence also suggests that the use of NPIs in the context of COVID-19 has had unequal effects on society, including across and within countries. For example, a survey comparing the impact of NPIs in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy, Slovenia and the UK found that those living in lower income countries reported more severe economic impact during the first wave of COVID-19 restrictions [11]. Another survey conducted among 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean found that the poorest households reported the highest levels of job loss and household food insecurity and that these impacts were also substantially higher among countries with mandatory NPIs, such as quarantines, curfews and mobility restrictions, compared to countries not implementing such restrictions [12].…”

The impact of COVID-19 non-pharmaceutical interventions on the lived experiences of people living in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy and the United Kingdom: a cross-country qualitative study

“…Here we describe results from a qualitative study, which was part of a mixed-methods study (SEB-COV) that also included an online survey [28]. The quantitative results are reported elsewhere [11].…”

“…Emerging evidence also suggests that the use of NPIs in the context of COVID-19 has had unequal effects on society, including across and within countries [11, 12]. Vulnerable populations in particular, including migrants, people working in the informal economy, homeless people, older people and people living with disabilities, may be disproportionately affected by the adverse impacts of NPIs [7, 13].…”

Escalating progression of mental health disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from a nationwide survey

“…Closure of schools and working from home have impacted business operations, with a consequent decrease in the demand for commodities. In Malaysia, like other countries around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused catastrophic economic and social disruptions [5][6][7]. The distancing measures, together with employment and financial insecurity, represent a massive mental health crisis affecting the wellbeing of populations throughout the world [8].…”