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

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including social distancing, travel restrictions and quarantine, on lived experiences during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand (TH), Malaysia (MY), Italy (IT) and the United Kingdom (UK). A total of 86 interviews (TH: n = 28; MY: n = 18; IT: n = 20; UK: n = 20) were conducted with members of the public, including healthcare workers (n = 13). Participants across countries held strong views on government imposed NPIs, with many feeling measures lacked clarity. Most participants reported primarily negative impacts of NPIs on their lives, including through separation, isolation and grief over missed milestones; work-related challenges and income loss; and poor mental health and wellbeing. Nonetheless, many also experienced inadvertent positive consequences, including more time at home to focus on what they most valued in life; a greater sense of connectedness; and benefits to working life. Commonly employed coping strategies focused on financial coping (e.g. reducing spending); psycho-emotional coping (e.g. engaging in spiritual practices); social coping and connectedness (e.g., maintaining relationships remotely); reducing and mitigating risks (e.g., changing food shopping routines); and limiting exposure to the news (e.g., checking news only occasionally). Importantly, the extent to which participants’ lived experiences were positive or negative, and their ability to cope was underpinned by individual, social and economic factors, with the analysis indicating some salient differences across countries and participants. In order to mitigate negative and unequal impacts of NPIs, COVID-19 policies will benefit from paying closer attention to the social, cultural and psychological—not just biological—vulnerabilities to, and consequences of public health measures.

“Like a wake-up call for humankind”: Views, challenges, and coping strategies related to public health measures during the first COVID-19 lockdown in Thailand

“…The results of the cross-country [29,30] and Thai survey study [31] have been published elsewhere and provide a quantitative overview of the socio-economic impact of the first pandemic wave, based on large respondent numbers from each country (5058 respondents in total, 1476 from Thailand). Results from the cross-country comparison qualitative SEBCOV study have also been published [37]. Complementary to those findings, this study provides an in-depth qualitative analysis into the unique perspectives and experiences of Thai residents during first wave of COVID-19 NPIs, specifically focusing on the Thai sociocultural context.…”

“…Prior to the data collection, BN provided data collection training for the team, including using role play with the topic guide, emphasizing in-depth interviewing skills, building rapport between interviewer and participants, and creating safe conversational spaces. Throughout this study, the Thai research team also engaged in reflective discussions with the UK-based cross-country qualitative research lead (MLS) and the SEBCOV qualitative teams in other countries [37], which supported methodological reflections, as well as the trustworthiness of interpretations and analysis.…”

“…This qualitative study forms part of a larger mixed-methods study, entitled 'Social, ethical and behavioural aspects of COVID-19' (SEBCOV) conducted in Thailand, Malaysia, Italy, Slovenia and the UK [37]. The two strands of this study were a quantitative self-administered, anonymous online survey; and qualitative interviews with participants from Thailand, Malaysia, Italy and the UK (excluding Slovenia, where only the survey was conducted).…”

Long-term spatial and population-structured planning of non-pharmaceutical interventions to epidemic outbreaks

“…This is also due, among other things, to the lack of information supported by scientific research on how the pandemic will develop in the long term and what NPIs policy-makers are planning to introduce to overcome it. Future uncertainties resulting from NPIs, such as when and how the measures would be eased and the impact on job prospects, was reported as a major stressor on mental health ( Schneiders et al, 2022 ). Uncertainties about the future resulting from NPIs also strongly affect the ability to make business decisions.…”

Community engagement to increase vaccine uptake: Quasi-experimental evidence from Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Pakistan

“…The SARS-CoV-2 (COVID- 19) outbreak has been one of the largest infectious disease challenges in the past century with 559 million cases and 6.36 million deaths [1]. In the initial phase, the only means to curb transmission were measures that limited contact between individuals, such as lockdowns, closures of schools, work and public places.…”