Obstacles to the Respect of Preventive Measures against Covid-19: The Case of the Mifi Health District, West-Cameroon Region
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51699/ijhsms.v1i5.486Keywords:
Obstacle, Preventive measures, Covid-19, Health DistrictAbstract
In December 2019, the coronavirus outbreak was declared in the Wuhan Province of the Republic of China. Over time, it gradually spread to Asia, Europe and Africa, resulting in the death or quarantine of several people. Few weeks after, the World Health Organisation announced that the situation has moved from an epidemic to a pandemic, with over 170,000 cases in 146 countries, and about 6,500 deaths (NBC, 2020). In Cameroon, from the very first hours of the pandemic, the Government implemented a prevention and response plan aimed at stopping the spread of the pandemic. In that sense, the Government tried to implement different public health measures to prevent and control the further spread of the disease. Research studies emerges all over the world regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in different aspects. However, few studies have questioned challenges face by the populations and their adherence to the prescribed measures. Such knowledge is essential for government policy concerning the current outbreak as well as future pandemics. That is why the objective of the current research work was to identify obstacles to the respect of preventive measures against Covid-19 at the Mifi Health District in West-Cameroon Region. To attain this objective a qualitative design was used. The phenomenological method permitted to interview different groups of participants, 30 in total, according to the saturation principle. Data were collected from August to September 2022. The analysis was done using the content analysis technique. The study found that there three main obstacles to the respect of preventive measures against Covid-19 in the MIFI Health District in West-Cameroon Region: scientific, social and cultural obstacles.
Downloads
References
Alahdal, H., Basingab, F., Alotaibi, R. (2020). An analytical study on the awareness, attitude and practice during the COVID-19 pandemic in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. J Infect Public Health. 13(10):1446-1452. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2020.06.015
Asemahagn, MA. (2020). Factors determining the knowledge and prevention practice of healthcare workers towards COVID-19 in Amhara region, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional survey. Trop Med Health. 48(1), 1-11.
Brown, E., Gray, R., Monaco, S L., O’Donoghue, B., Nelson, B., Thompson, A., Francey, S., McGorry, P. (2020). The potential impact of COVID-19 on psychosis: A rapid review of contemporary epidemic and pandemic research. doi: 10.1016/j.schres.2020.05.005.
Cabore, J W., Karamagi, H C., Kipruto, H., Asamani, J A., Droti, B., Aminata Binetou Wahebine Seydi, A B W., Titi-Ofei, R., Impouma, B., Yao, M., Yoti, Z., Zawaira, F., Tumusiime, P., Talisuna, A., Kasolo, FC., Moeti, M R. (2020). The potential effects of widespread community transmission of SARSCoV-2 infection in the World Health Organization African Region: a predictive model. BMJ Global Health. 5(5): e002647.
CamerounWeb. (March 18, 2020). Coronavirus: Bafoussam enregistre son premier cas confirmé. Accessed July 26, 2020.
Centers for Disease Control for Prevention and Control (CDC). (2020). Information for Clinicians on Investigational Therapeutics for Patients with COVID-19. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/therapeutic-options.html//. Accessed April 27, 2020.
Colebunders, R., SieweFodjo, J.N., Vanham, G. and Van den Bergh, R. (2020) A Call for Strengthened Evidence on Targeted, Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions against COVID-19 for the Protection of Vulnerable Individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 99, 482-484. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2020.08.060
Coroiu, A., Moran, C., Campbell, T., et al. Barriers and facilitators of adherence to social distancing recommendations during COVID-19 among a large international sample of adults. (2020). PLoS One.15(10): e0239795. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0239795
Crtv (2020). COVID-19: Cameroon’s Authorities Order Compulsory Face Masking. https://www.crtv.cm/2020/04/covid-19-cameroons-authorities-orders-compulsory-face-masking/
El-Sadr, WM., & Justman J. (2020). Africa in the Path of COVID-19. New England Journal of Medicine. 383(3): e11
Guan, W., Ni, Z., Yu Hu, Liang, W., Ou, C., He, J., Liu, L., Shan, H., Lei, C., Hui, D.S.C., Du, B., Li, L., Zeng, G., Yuen, K.-Y., Chen, R., Tang, C., Wang, T., Chen, P., Xiang, J., …Zhong, N. (2020). Clinical Characteristics of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in China. The New England Journal of Medicine. 382(18), 1708-1720
Murphy, A., Linzy M. Pinkerton, L M., Ellie Bruckner, E., & Heather J. Risser, H J. (2021). Impact of the Novel Coronavirus Disease 2019 on Therapy Service Delivery for Children with Disabilities. The Journal of Paediatrics. 231, 168-77.
Maude, R., Jongdeepaisal, M., Skuntaniyom, S., Muntajit, Th., Blacksell, S D., Khuenpetch, W., Pan-Ngum, W., Taleangkaphan, K., Malathum, K., & Maude, R J. (2021). Improving knowledge, attitudes and practice to prevent COVID-19 transmission in healthcare workers and the public in Thailand. BMC Public Health. 21(749). doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10768-y
Hellewell, J., Abbott, S., Gimma, A., Bosse, N I., Jarvis, C I., Russell, T W., James D Munday, J D., Kucharski, A J., & Edmunds W J. (2020). Feasibility of controlling COVID-19 outbreaks by isolation of cases and contacts. Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases COVID-19 Working Group. 8(4)488-496. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(20)30074-7
Kollias, A., Konstantinos, G., Dimakakos, K E., Poulakou, G., Stergiou, G S. & Syrigos, K. (2020). Thromboembolic risk and anticoagulant therapy in COVID-19 patients: emerging evidence and call for action. Third Department of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, School of Medicine, Sotiria Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Thomford, N.E.; Yahaya, E.S.; Ekor, M.; Awortwe, C. (2020). Turning Up the Volume for Precision Herbal Medicine in Africa in an Era of COVID-19 and Planetary Biodiversity Loss. OMICS A J. Integr. Biol. 24, 682–684.
Thompson, J., Spencer, G., & Curtis, P. (2021) Children's perspectives and experiences of the COVID‐19 pandemic and UK public health measures. Health Expect. 24, 2057‐2064. https://doi.org/10.1111/hex.133502064
Lauren T. Roland, L T., Jose G. Gurrola, J G., Loftus, P A., Cheung, S W., Chang, J L. (2020). Smell and taste symptom-based predictive model for COVID-19 diagnosis. International Forum of Allergy and Rhinology. 10(7), 832-838. https://doi.org/10.1002/alr.22602
Liu, Q., Luo, D., Haase, J E., Guo, Q., Wang, X Q., Liu, S. et al. (2020). The experiences of health-care providers during the COVID-19 crisis in China: a qualitative study. Lancet Glob Health. 8: e790-98.
Mbopi-Keou, F X., Pondi, J E., & Sosso, M A. (2020). COVID-19 in Cameroon: a crucial equation to Resolve. Lancet Infect Dis. S1473-3099(20)30373-X.
Ministry of Health - Cameroon. (2020). Lette Circulaire Relative Au Contrôle De La Prescription Des Médicaments Utilisables Dans Le Traitement De L'infection Due Au Nouveau Coronavirus (COVID-19). Lettre Circulaire NºD36-31 LC/MINSANTE/SG/DPML du 23 Mars 2020.
National Health Commission of People’s Republic of China. Guidelines for public protection against novel coronavirus infection; 2020. Available from: http://www.nhc.gov.cn/jkj/s7915/202001/bc661e49b5bc487dba182f5c49ac445b.shtml. Accessed April 27, 2020.
Osseni, I A. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa: preparedness, response, and hidden potentials. Tropical Medicine and Health. 17:48-48.
République du Cameroun Services du Premier Ministre. (2020). Press Release by the Prime Minister Head of Cameroonian Government. Accessed August 5, 2020.
Tsuala Fouogue, J. et al. (2020). Poor knowledge of COVID-19 and unfavourable perception of the response to the pandemic by healthcare workers at the Bafoussam Regional Hospital (West Region-Cameroon). Pan African Medical Journal. 37(1):19. doi: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.37.1.25688
Van Damme,W., Dahake, R., Delamou, A., Ingelbeen, B., Wouters, E., Vanham, G., Van de Pas, R., Dossou, JP., Por, Ir., Abimbola, S., Van der Borght, S., Narayanan, D., Bloom, G., Van Engelgem, I., Ali Ag Ahmed, M., Kiendrébéogo, JA., Verdonck, K., De Brouwere, V., Bello, K., … Assefa, Y. (2020). The COVID-19 pandemic: diverse contexts; different epidemics-how and why? BMJ Global Health. 5, 1-16: e003098. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003098
Wadoum REG, Clarke, A. (2020). How prepared is Africa to face COVID-19? The Pan African Medical Journal. 35(2), 1. doi: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.35.2.22665.
World Health Organization. (2020). Global Health workforce alliance. Country response: Cameroon. Accessed July 26 2020.
World Health Organization. (2020). WHO Global Health Workforce Statistics. December 2018 update. Accessed July 26 2020.
World Health Organization. (2021). Considerations for implementing and adjusting public health and social measures in the context of COVID-19: interim guidance. World Health Organization. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/341811.
Zhong, BL., Luo, W., Li, HM., Zhang, QQ., Liu, XG., Li, WT., Li, Y. (2020). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards COVID-19 among Chinese residents during the rapid rise period of the COVID-19 outbreak: a quick online cross-sectional survey. International Journal Biological Science. 6(10), 1745-1752. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.45221.
