Risk Management and Healthcare Policy (Nov 2021)

Economic, Health and Physical Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic in Sub-Saharan African Regions: A Cross Sectional Survey

  • Mashige KP,
  • Osuagwu UL,
  • Ulagnathan S,
  • Ekpenyong BN,
  • Abu EK,
  • Goson PC,
  • Langsi R,
  • Nwaeze O,
  • Timothy CG,
  • Charwe DD,
  • Oloruntoba R,
  • Miner CA,
  • Ishaya T,
  • Ovenseri-Ogbomo GO,
  • Agho KE

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 4799 – 4807

Abstract

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Khathutshelo Percy Mashige,1 Uchechukwu Levi Osuagwu,1,2 Sekar Ulagnathan,3 Bernadine N Ekpenyong,1,4 Emmanuel Kwasi Abu,5 Piwuna Christopher Goson,6 Raymond Langsi,7 Obinna Nwaeze,8 Chikasirimobi G Timothy,9 Deborah Donald Charwe,10 Richard Oloruntoba,11 Chundung Asabe Miner,12 Tanko Ishaya,13 Godwin O Ovenseri-Ogbomo,1,14 Kingsley E Agho1,15 1African Vision Research Institute (AVRI), School of Health Sciences, University of Kwazulu-Natal, Durban, 3629, South Africa; 2Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, New South Wales, Australia; 3Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; 4Department of Public Health, Faculty of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria; 5School of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana; 6Department of Psychiatry, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Nigeria; 7Health division, University of Bamenda, Bamenda, Cameroon; 8County Durham and Darlington National Health Service (NHS) Foundation, Darlington, Durham, UK; 9Department of Optometry and Vision Sciences, School of Public Health, Biomedical Sciences and Technology, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya; 10Tanzania Food and Nutrition Center, Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania; 11Supply Chain Management, Curtin Business School, School of Management and Marketing, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; 12Department of Community Medicine, College of Health Sciences, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria; 13Department of Computer Science, University of Jos, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria; 14Department of Optometry, Centre for Life Sciences, University of the Highlands and Islands, Inverness, IV2 3JH, UK; 15School of Health Sciences, Western Sydney University, Sydney, New South Wales, AustraliaCorrespondence: Uchechukwu Levi OsuagwuTranslational Health Research Institute (THRI), School of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Campbelltown, NSW, 2560, AustraliaTel +61 401 193 234Email [email protected]: The key preventive measures adopted to minimise the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) had significant health, economic and physical impacts mostly in developing countries. This study evaluated the health, economic and physical impacts of COVID-19 lockdown measures among sub-Saharan African (SSA) population and associated demographic variations.Methods: A total of 1970 respondents took part in this web-based cross-sectional survey during the mandatory lockdown period in most SSA. The dependent variables were health (COVID-19 infection, hospitalisation), socioeconomic (lost job, closed down business) and physical impacts (separated from family) of COVID-19. Univariate and bivariate logistic regression analyses were used to explore the factors associated with each of the dependent variables by the four sub-regions (Southern, Western, Central and East Africa).Results: The respondents were aged 34.1 ± 11.5 years (range: 18– 75 years) and mostly men (1099, 55%). 25.9% (n = 511) reported an impact of COVID-19 pandemic with significant regional variations (p 0.05). Among Central African respondents, more men than women lost their businesses (45.7% versus 14.3%, p = 0.002) and contracted COVID-19 infections (40.0% versus 18.2%, p = 0.024) during the study period. Multivariable analysis revealed that respondents from East (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.42– 2.69), Southern (AOR 1.46, 95% CI: 1.09– 1.96) and Central Africa (AOR 1.47, 95% CI: 1.06– 2.03) reported significantly higher impact of COVID-19. Those who reported family separation during the lockdown were more likely to be older participants (39– 48 years, AOR 2.48, 95% CI: 1.11– 5.57).Conclusion: One in four SSA respondents, mostly East and Southern Africans, were adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic during the lockdown. Interventions in high-risk populations are needed to reduce the health, socioeconomic and gender disparities in the impacts of COVID-19.Keywords: job loss, infections, hospitalisation, family separation, lockdown, coronavirus infection, Africa

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