"I thought I was going to die": Experiences of COVID-19 patients managed at home in Uganda
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Date
2023-12-12
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PLOS ONE
Abstract
Background
In Uganda, approximately 170,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,630 deaths have been reported as of January 2023. At the start of the second COVID-19 wave, the Ugandan
health system was overwhelmed with a sudden increase in the number of COVID-19 patients who needed care, and the Ministry of Health resorted to home-based isolation and
care for patients with mild to moderate disease. Before its rollout, the COVID-19 homebased care strategy had neither been piloted nor tested in Uganda.
Objective
To explore the experiences of COVID-19 patients managed at home in Uganda.
Methods
This was a qualitative study that was conducted to explore the lived experiences of COVID19 patients managed at home. The study was carried out among patients who presented to
three hospitals that were designated for treating COVID-19 patients in Uganda. COVID-19
patients diagnosed at these hospitals and managed at home were followed up and contacted for in-depth telephone interviews. The data were analysed using thematic content
analysis with the aid of NVIVO 12.0.0 (QRS International, Cambridge, MA).
Results
Participants experienced feelings of fear and anxiety: fear of death, fear of losing jobs, fear
of infecting loved ones and fear of adverse events such as loss of libido. Participants also
reported feelings of loneliness, hopelessness and depression on top of the debilitating and
sometimes worsening symptoms. In addition to conventional medicines, participants took
various kinds of home remedies and herbal concoctions to alleviate their symptoms. Furthermore, COVID-19 care resulted in a high economic burden, which persisted after the
COVID-19 illness. Stigma was a major theme reported by participants. Participants recommended that COVID-19 care should include counselling before testing and during and after
the illness to combat the fear and stigma associated with the diagnosis. Another recommendation was that health workers should carry out home visits to patients undergoing homebased care and that COVID-19 treatment should be free of charge.
Conclusion
COVID-19 home-based care was associated with fear, anxiety, loneliness, depression, economic loss and stigma. Policymakers should consider various home-based follow-up strategies and strengthen counselling of COVID-19 patients at all stages of care.
Description
Keywords
Convid 19 management, convid 19 treatment, Patients with convid, Uganda
Citation
Nakireka, S., Mukunya, D., Tumuhaise, C., Olum, R., Namulema, E., Napyo, A., ... & Kiguli, S. (2023). " I thought I was going to die": Experiences of COVID-19 patients managed at home in Uganda. Plos one, 18(12), e0295113.