COVID-19 as a Social Disease: Qualitative Analysis of COVID-19 Prevention Needs, Impact of Control Measures and Community Responses Among Racialized/Ethnic Minorities in Antwerp, Belgium

Abstract Background: In high income countries, racialized/ethnic minorities are disproportionally affected by COVID-19. We lack in-depth understanding of these communities’ experiences with and responses to COVID-19 despite the established importance of community involvement in epidemic preparedness. We explored information and prevention needs, coping mechanisms with COVID-19 control measures and their impact on lived experiences among selected racialized/ethnic minority communities.Methods: This qualitative rapid assessment conducted in Antwerp/Belgium used an interpretative and participatory approach. We included migrant communities with geographic origins ranging from Sub-Saharan Africa, North-Africa to the Middle East, Orthodox Jewish communities and community workers working with these groups. Data were collected between May 2020 - May 2021 through key informant-, in-depth interviews and group discussions (N=71). Transcripts were analyzed inductively, adopting a reflexive thematic approach. A community advisory board provided feedback throughout the research process.Results: Participants indicated the need for tailored information in terms of language and timing. At the start of the epidemic, they perceived official public health messages as insufficient to reach all community members. Information sources included non-mainstream (social) media and media from home countries, hampering a nuanced understanding of virus transmission mechanisms and local and national protection measures. Participants felt the measures’ most negative impact on their livelihoods (e.g. loss of income, disruption of social and immigration support). Economic insecurity triggered chronic stress and fears at individual and family level. High degrees of distrust in authorities and anticipated stigma were grounded in previously experienced racial and ethnic discrimination. Community-based initiatives mitigated this impact, ranging from disseminating translated and tailored information, providing individual support, and successfully reaching community members with complex needs (e.g. the elderly, digitally illiterate people, those with small social networks or irregular legal status). Conclusion: Study participants’ narratives showed how coping with and responding to COVID-19 was strongly intertwined with socio-economic and ethnic/racial characteristics, justifying conceptualizing COVID-19 a social disease. At the same time, communities demonstrated resilience in responding to these structural vulnerabilities. From a health equity perspective, we provide concrete policy recommendations grounded in insights into communities’ structural vulnerabilities and resilience.

Download Full-text

Modern challenges of border areas development in the context of decentralization reform

Regional Economy ◽

10.36818/1562-0905-2019-2-9 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 79-89

Author(s):

Khrystyna Prytula ◽

Yaroslava Kalat ◽

Iryna Kyryk

Keyword(s):

Ethnic Minorities ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Local Development ◽

Economic Security ◽

Uneven Development ◽

Scientific Article ◽

Border Regions ◽

Border Areas ◽

Decentralization Reform

An integral part of the implementation of any reform is the emergence of the risks of its negative impact on one or another area of region development. The decentralization reform in Ukraine is not an exception. In its the context the most probable occurrence of negative phenomena is in the border regions, which could be prevented by first detecting them. In the scientific article, the authors focus on the analysis of a number of challenges for the development of border regions in the context of decentralization reform. Given the territorial remoteness of the central regions of the country and the capital, which today serve as areas of concentration of investment and economic activity, the border regions traditionally (this is typical for the border areas of the EU member states) lag behind the rest of the regions by the main socio-economic indicators of development. Among the main challenges facing the border regions of Ukraine today are the following: the provision of competitiveness in the context of European integration processes and reduction of the border barrier function; low level of economic security; the outflow of human capital and the issue of ethnic minorities. Based on an expert survey of representatives of the fifteen united territorial communities (UTCs), the possibility of such risks of decentralization in the border regions were defined as following: groundless use of local budget funds; emergence of significant imbalances between delegated new authority and available financial resources of the community; increasing uneven development of territories within the community; increasing uneven development of communities within the country; deterioration of the availability and quality of providing educational and medical services; deterioration of the quality of local government; reducing of the state influence on the management of local development processes; radicalization of political unions representing the interests of ethnic minorities in places of their compact residence; further economic decline of the territory of communities and so on.

Download Full-text

Biological Control of a Phytosanitary Pest (Thaumatotibia leucotreta): A Case Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18031198 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 1198

Author(s):

Sean D. Moore

Keyword(s):

Biological Control ◽

Systems Approach ◽

Microbial Control ◽

Codling Moth ◽

Environmental Safety ◽

Control Measures ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

The European Union ◽

Thaumatotibia Leucotreta ◽

Sub Saharan

Thaumatotibia leucotreta, known as the false codling moth, is a pest of citrus and other crops in sub-Saharan Africa. As it is endemic to this region and as South Africa exports most of its citrus around the world, T. leucotreta has phytosanitary status for most markets. This means that there is zero tolerance for any infestation with live larvae in the market. Consequently, control measures prior to exporting must be exemplary. Certain markets require a standalone postharvest disinfestation treatment for T. leucotreta. However, the European Union accepts a systems approach, consisting of three measures and numerous components within these measures. Although effective preharvest control measures are important under all circumstances, they are most critical where a standalone postharvest disinfestation treatment is not applied, such as within a systems approach. Conventional wisdom may lead a belief that effective chemical control tools are imperative to achieve this end. However, we demonstrate that it is possible to effectively control T. leucotreta to a level acceptable for a phytosanitary market, using only biological control tools. This includes parasitoids, predators, microbial control, semiochemicals, and sterile insects. Simultaneously, on-farm and environmental safety is improved and compliance with the increasing stringency of chemical residue requirements imposed by markets is achieved.

Download Full-text

Effects of COVID-19 on the economy and mental health of young people in South Africa: opportunities for strengthening social protection programmes by integrating mental health

South African Journal of Psychology ◽

10.1177/00812463211015348 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 199-204

Author(s):

Alejandra Álvarez-Iglesias ◽

Emily Garman ◽

Crick Lund

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

South Africa ◽

Young People ◽

Child Support ◽

Social Protection ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Protection Measures ◽

Employment Education

The majority of COVID-19 cases in sub-Saharan Africa are found in South Africa, where one third of young people are not in employment, education or training. As the world continues to fight the COVID-19 virus spread, an increasing volume of studies are analysing and trying to predict the consequences of the pandemic on the economy and on physical and mental health. This article describes the economic and psychological impact of COVID-19 in South Africa’s youth specifically, the efforts made to tackle these issues, and the opportunities to integrate mental health into the country’s social protection measures, such as the Child Support Grant.

Download Full-text

The Impact of COVID-19 on Surgical Training: the Past, the Present and the Future

Indian Journal of Surgery ◽

10.1007/s12262-021-02964-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Marina Yiasemidou

Keyword(s):

Infection Control ◽

Surgical Training ◽

New Technologies ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Elective Surgery ◽

Control Measures ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Surgical Services ◽

The World ◽

The Impact

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic and infection control measures had an unavoidable impact on surgical services. During the first wave of the pandemic, elective surgery, endoscopy, and ‘face-to-face’ clinics were discontinued after recommendations from professional bodies. In addition, training courses, examinations, conferences, and training rotations were postponed or cancelled. Inadvertently, infection control and prevention measures, both within and outside hospitals, have caused a significant negative impact on training. At the same time, they have given space to new technologies, like telemedicine and platforms for webinars, to blossom. While the recovery phase is well underway in some parts of the world, most surgical services are not operating at full capacity. Unfortunately, some countries are still battling a second or third wave of the pandemic with severely negative consequences on surgical services. Several studies have looked into the impact of COVID-19 on surgical training. Here, an objective overview of studies from different parts of the world is presented. Also, evidence-based solutions are suggested for future surgical training interventions.

Download Full-text

Violence and discrimination among Ugandan residents during the COVID-19 lockdown

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10532-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth Katana ◽

Bob Omoda Amodan ◽

Lilian Bulage ◽

Alex R. Ario ◽

Joseph Nelson Siewe Fodjo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Law Enforcement ◽

Control Measures ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

World Health ◽

Vulnerable Groups ◽

Transport Systems ◽

Outcome Variable ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Factors Associated ◽

The Past

Abstract Background In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Uganda inclusive, implemented lockdowns, curfew, banning of both private and public transport systems, and mass gatherings to minimize spread. Social control measures for COVID-19 are reported to increase violence and discrimination globally, including in Uganda as some may be difficult to implement resulting in the heavy deployment of law enforcement. Media reports indicated that cases of violence and discrimination had increased in Uganda’s communities following the lockdown. We estimated the incidence and factors associated with experiencing violence and discrimination among Ugandans during the COVID-19 lockdown to inform control and prevention measures. Methods In April 2020, we conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data under the International Citizen Project (ICP) to assess adherence to public health measures and their impact on the COVID-19 outbreak in Uganda. We analyzed data on violence and discrimination from the ICP study. We performed descriptive statistics for all the participants’ characteristics and created a binary outcome variable called experiencing violence and/or discrimination. We performed logistic regression analysis to identify the factors associated with experiencing violence and discrimination. Results Of the 1726 ICP study participants, 1051 (58.8%) were males, 841 (48.7%) were currently living with a spouse or partner, and 376 (21.8%) had physically attended work for more than 3 days in the past week. Overall, 145 (8.4%) experienced any form of violence and/or discrimination by any perpetrator, and 46 (31.7%) of the 145 reported that it was perpetrated by a law enforcement officer. Factors associated with experiencing violence or discrimination were: being male (AOR = 1.60 CI:1.10–2.33), having attended work physically for more than 3 days in the past week (AOR = 1.52 CI:1.03–2.23), and inability to access social or essential health services since the epidemic started (AOR = 3.10 CI:2.14–4.50). Conclusion A substantial proportion of Ugandan residents experienced violence and/or discrimination during the COVID-19 lockdown, mostly perpetrated by law enforcement officers. We recommend mitigation of the collateral impact of lockdowns with interventions that focus on improving policing quality, ensuring continuity of essential services, and strengthening support systems for vulnerable groups including males.

Download Full-text

An afebrile heartwater-like syndrome in goats

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association ◽

10.4102/jsava.v84i1.955 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 84 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rhoda Leask ◽

Kenneth P. Pettey ◽

Gareth F. Bath

Keyword(s):

Clinical Signs ◽

Control Measures ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Limiting Factor ◽

Febrile Reaction ◽

Presumptive Diagnosis ◽

Appropriate Treatment ◽

Sub Saharan ◽

Characteristic Features ◽

And Control

Heartwater is a serious limiting factor for sheep and goat production in the major endemic area of sub-Saharan Africa and therefore most knowledge, research and control methods originate from this region. Whilst the usual or common clinical presentations can be used to make a presumptive diagnosis of heartwater with a good measure of confidence, this is not always the case, and animals suffering from heartwater may be misdiagnosed because their cases do not conform to the expected syndrome, signs and lesions. One aberrant form found occasionally in the Channel Island breeds of cattle and some goats is an afebrile heartwaterlike syndrome. The most constant and characteristic features of this heartwater-like syndrome comprise normal temperature, clinical signs associated with generalised oedema, and nervous signs, especially hypersensitivity. The presumption that the disease under investigation is the afebrile heartwater-like syndrome entails a tentative diagnosis based on history and clinical signs and the response to presumed appropriate treatment (metadiagnosis). The afebrile heartwater-like syndrome presents similarly to peracute heartwater but without the febrile reaction. Peracute cases of heartwater have a high mortality rate, enabling confirmation of the disease on post-mortem examination. Recognition of the afebrile heartwater-like syndrome is important to prevent deaths and identify the need for appropriate control measures.

Download Full-text

Social norm enforcement in ethnically diverse communities

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1718309115 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 115 (11) ◽

pp. 2722-2727 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Fabian Winter ◽

Nan Zhang

Keyword(s):

Ethnic Minorities ◽

Ethnic Diversity ◽

Social Norm ◽

Real Life ◽

Ethnically Diverse ◽

Ethnic Discrimination ◽

German Population ◽

Minority Population ◽

Norm Violations ◽

Norm Enforcement

Recent waves of immigration to Western nations have fueled a debate over the consequences of ethnic diversity for social cohesion. One prominent argument in this debate holds that diversity is detrimental to trust and cooperation because individuals in heterogeneous communities face difficulties in enforcing social norms across ethnic lines. We examine this proposition in a field experiment involving real-life interactions among residents of multiethnic German neighborhoods. We find significant ethnic asymmetries in the pattern of norm enforcement: Members of the majority “native” German population are more active in sanctioning norm violations, while ethnic minorities are more likely to find themselves the target of sanctions. We interpret these results in light of prevailing status inequalities between ethnic minorities and the native majority. We further calculate that, as a result of ethnic discrimination, social control is likely to rise in communities with moderate minority population shares.

Download Full-text

Participatory potato seed production: a breakthrough for food security and income generation in the central highlands of Ethiopia

Open Agriculture ◽

10.1515/opag-2017-0021 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Abebe Chindi ◽

Egata Shunka ◽

Atsede Solomon ◽

W. Giorgis Gebremedhin ◽

Ebrahim Seid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Information Dissemination ◽

Agricultural Research ◽

Crop Protection ◽

Potato Production ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Potato Seed ◽

Protection Measures ◽

Potato Varieties ◽

Production Technologies ◽

Sub Saharan

AbstractQuality seed is one of the major bottlenecks hampering the production and productivity of potato not only in Ethiopia but also in Sub-Saharan Africa. Since the 1970’s, the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research has generated a number of improved potato production technologies such as improved varieties with accompanying agronomic practices, crop protection measures, postharvest handling techniques and utilization options. The developed technologies were promoted from 2013-2015 via technology promotion and popularization to the Wolmera, Adea-Bera and Ejere districts with the objective of creating awareness and up scaling of improved potato production and utilization technologies. The Potato Improvement Research Program and the Research and Extension Division of Holetta Research Center in collaboration with extension staff of the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) undertake this activity. The farmers were selected and organized in Farmer Field Schools and all stakeholders were engaged before distributing potato seeds and planting on selected farmers’ fields for demonstrating of potato production technologies. A total of 899 farmers and 40 agricultural experts were trained and 27.7, 9 and 5.5 tons of quality seeds of Gudanie, Jalenie and Belete potato varieties, respectively, were delivered as a revolving seed with their recommended agronomic packages; this amount of seed covered 21.1 ha. A total of 16 farmer groups from Wolmera, 7 from Adea-Berga, and 11 from Ejere participated. They produced over 434 tons of relatively clean seed and constructed 8 diffused light stores. In addition to the demonstration of improved potato varieties, information dissemination was also an important component of the program to raise awareness for a large numbers of potato growers through farmers’ field days, pamphlets, and mass media. Each year about three field days were organized and more than 1500 pamphlets were distributed to farmers invited from neighboring districts and ‘Kebeles’ to enhance speed. Through this intervention farmers are now harvesting a yield of about 26-34 t/ha up from 8t/ha when they were using inferior quality potato seed; this has made the farmers in the intervention area more food secure especially during the usually food scarce months of August to October when cereal crops are generally yet to mature. The farmers are also getting additional income from the sale of excess potato and are able to better meet other necessary costs like school fees, for their children.

Download Full-text

“Why Don’t You Go Into Suburbs? Why Are You Targeting Us?”: Trust and Mistrust in HIV Vaccine Trials in South Africa

Journal of Empirical Research on Human Research Ethics ◽

10.1177/1556264618804740 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 525-536 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Siyabonga Thabethe ◽

Catherine Slack ◽

Graham Lindegger ◽

Abigail Wilkinson ◽

Douglas Wassenaar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vaccine Trial ◽

Hiv Vaccine ◽

Community Advisory Board ◽

Future Research ◽

Community Members ◽

Group Discussions ◽

Hiv Vaccine Trials ◽

Vaccine Trials ◽

Community Stakeholders ◽

Site Staff

Trust is a key element of high-quality stakeholder relations, which are themselves essential for the success of HIV vaccine trials. Where trust is absent, community stakeholders might not volunteer to become involved in key trial activities, and potential participants might not volunteer for enrollment. We explored site staff and Community Advisory Board (CAB) members’ experiences of trust/mistrust among community members and potential participants. We analyzed 10 focus group discussions with site staff and CAB members at two active South African HIV vaccine trial sites. We report on key characteristics perceived to contribute to the trustworthiness of communicators, as well as factors associated with mistrust. Attributes associated with trustworthy communicators included shared racial identity, competence, and independence (not being “captured”). Key foci for mistrust included explanations about site selection, stored samples, vaccination, and Vaccine Induced Sero-Positivity (VISP). Our findings suggest that community members’ trust is not necessarily global, in which trials are trusted or not; rather, it appears fairly nuanced and is impacted by various perceived attributes of communicators and the information they provide. We make recommendations for clinical trial site stakeholders invested in building trust and for future research into trust at these sites.

Download Full-text

An Overview of the Impact of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) In Nigeria

International Journal of Human Resource Studies ◽

10.5296/ijhrs.v8i4.13846 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 180

Author(s):

Ogbette, Afamefuna Samuel ◽

Idam, Macben Otu ◽

Kareem, Akeem Olumide

Keyword(s):

Negative Impact ◽

Point Of View ◽

Police Force ◽

Control Measures ◽

Secondary Source ◽

Human Relations ◽

Police Service ◽

Service Commission ◽

Hard Drugs ◽

The Impact

This study examined the impact of Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) in Nigeria. It solely depended on the secondary source for information. SARS is one of the Nigeria Police Force units that is saddled with the responsibility of fighting crime in the society; specifically, robbery and kidnapping. The impact was examined in two ways: Positive and Negative impact. From the positive point of view, SARS has been able to reduce robbery and kidnapping to an extent but unfortunately, people now use them as bodyguards to intimidate, suppress, and harass other people. From our findings, SARS tortures people mercilessly, extort, beat, kill and jail people who are not forthcoming with their demands. It was also discovered that, most of them lacks orientation on human relation which is a big gap the Nigeria Police Force need to cover by re-orienting them. Again, it was discovered that some of the personnel smoke and drink. They are often intoxicated while on duty, wielding sophisticated guns. From the study, the following recommendations were made: control measures should be put in place for SARS to be stopped from torturing people. They should equally be stopped from extorting, beating, killing (except in a battle ground) and framing people up just to be jailed. Investigative jobs as that of SARS should be exclusively for graduates in the Police Service. Again, the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Police Service Commission need to often re-orient these officers on human relations. Finally, officers caught drinking or smoking (especially hard drugs) on duty should be properly dealt with to serve as a deterrent to others.

Download Full-text