Exploring COVID‐19 from the perspectives of healthcare personnel in Malawi

Chúk Odenigbo; Eric Crighton

doi:10.1002/hcs2.58

Health Care Science 2023, 2(4): 242-254 https://doi.org/10.1002/hcs2.58

Original Article |

Open Access | Issue | Published: 13 July 2023

Exploring COVID‐19 from the perspectives of healthcare personnel in Malawi

Show Author's Information Hide Author's Information Chúk Odenigbo^{^,}

(

), Eric Crighton

Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics at the University of Ottawa, 60 University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

[Correction added on 24 August 2023, after first online publication: In the previous published version of the article, corresponding author erroneously mentioned 8 men and 5 women in third paragraph of Materials and Methods section, that is now corrected]

Keywords:

fear, COVID‐19, pandemic, healthcare workers, Malawi, discrimination, violence

Cite this article:

Odenigbo C, Crighton E. Exploring COVID‐19 from the perspectives of healthcare personnel in Malawi. Health Care Science, 2023, 2(4): 242-254. https://doi.org/10.1002/hcs2.58

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Abstract Full text About this article

Abstract

Background

The Coronavirus 2019 disease (COVID‐19) brought many healthcare systems around the world to the point of collapse all the while putting the lives of healthcare workers at risk. This study forgoes an institutional look at healthcare to center individual healthcare personnel in Malawi to better understand (1) how the worldviews of healthcare workers impact their work in the context of COVID‐19, (2) how COVID‐19 impacted healthcare workers, and (3) the unique conditions faced by being a healthcare worker in a low‐income nation.

Methods

This research uses a hermeneutic phenomenological approach to qualitative methodology involving in‐depth interviews (n = 15) with healthcare workers, traditional healers, and hospital leadership. The data collected were inductively coded and analyzed using the framework method, producing rich descriptions on how COVID‐19 impacted the lifeworlds of healthcare workers in Malawi.

Results

The findings reveal many of the struggles healthcare workers faced due to misaligned government policy and perceived proximity to COVID‐19; outline their needs such as wanting better resources, funds, wages, and public health communication; and, exemplify the significant role that personal biases, worldviews, and sense of fear played in how healthcare workers perceived and interacted with COVID‐19.

Conclusion

Much of what was said echoes beyond borders, reflecting common global sentiments felt by healthcare personnel, and offers directions to explore building policies, strategies, and plans in preparation for any future disease outbreaks.

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About this article

Exploring COVID‐19 from the perspectives of healthcare personnel in Malawi

Show Author's information Hide Author's Information Chúk Odenigbo^{^,}

(

), Eric Crighton

Department of Geography, Environment and Geomatics at the University of Ottawa, 60 University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keywords: fear, COVID‐19, pandemic, healthcare workers, Malawi, discrimination, violence

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Acknowledgements

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Publication history

Received: 24 February 2023

Accepted: 22 May 2023

Published: 13 July 2023

Issue date: August 2023

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Acknowledgements

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to acknowledge the hard work of Esther Lupafya and the rest of the team at SFHC for helping coordinate the research work on the ground in Malawi; Dr. Paul Mkandawire for supporting my larger PhD thesis work; Dr. Sonia Wesche for stepping in and reviewing my manuscript; and, each of the respondents for being so open in sharing their thoughts, opinions, and concerns that helped shape this paper. A massive thank you to Abhayjeet Singh Sachal who played an important role in data collection and transcription. The authors disclose receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and publication of this article: This work was supported by Mitacs through the Mitacs Accelerate Programme [grant number IT19260].

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