Intense and Mild Wave of COVID-19 in The Gambia: a Cohort Analysis

Roca, Anna

doi:10.1101/2020.12.10.20238576

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 21 publications

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“…The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic threatens to reverse the progress made so far in improving the uptake of antenatal and immunization services in The Gambia. The first confirmed case of COVID-19 was detected in The Gambia on 17 March 2020 and 3 more cases were detected by the end of March (Table 2) [29,30]. However, by the end of June 2020, only 45 new confirmed cases had been detected [31].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors that influenced utilization of antenatal and immunization services in two local government areas in The Gambia during COVID-19: An interview-based qualitative study

Bah

Russo

2023

PLoS ONE

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Introduction Evidence is being consolidated that shows that the utilization of antenatal and immunization services has declined in low-income countries (LICs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Very little is known about the effects of the pandemic on antenatal and immunization service utilization in The Gambia. We set out to explore the COVID-19-related factors affecting the utilization of antenatal and immunization services in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) in The Gambia. Methods A qualitative methodology was used to explore patients’ and providers’ experiences of antenatal and immunization services during the pandemic in two LGAs in The Gambia. Thirty-one study participants were recruited from four health facilities, applying a theory-driven sampling framework, including health workers as well as female patients. Qualitative evidence was collected through theory-driven semi-structured interviews, and was recorded, translated into English, transcribed, and analysed thematically, applying a social-ecological framework. Results In our interviews, we identified themes at five different levels: individual, interpersonal, community, institutional and policy factors. Individual factors revolved around patients’ fear of being infected in the facilities, and of being quarantined, and their anxiety about passing on infections to family members. Interpersonal factors involved the reluctance of partners and family members, as well as perceived negligence and disrespect by health workers. Community factors included misinformation within the community and mistrust of vaccines. Institutional factors included the shortage of health workers, closures of health facilities, and the lack of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and essential medicines. Finally, policy factors revolved around the consequences of COVID-19 prevention measures, particularly the shortage of transport options and mandatory wearing of face masks. Conclusions Our findings suggest that patients’ fears of contagion, perceptions of poor treatment in the health system, and a general anxiety around the imposing of prevention measures, undermined the uptake of services. In future emergencies, the government in The Gambia, and governments in other LICs, will need to consider the unintended consequences of epidemic control measures on the uptake of antenatal and immunization services.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%