The Impact of Infectious Epidemic on Internally Displaced Person: A Case Study of Coronavirus Disease
Chapter One
Objective of the study
Objectives of the study are;
- To find out the contribution of government to internally displaced person during COVID19
- To find out the effect of COVID19 on internally displaced person
- To identify COVID 19 information needs of IPDs in the federal capital territory in Abuja, Nigeria
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
Introduction
Thousands of people are displaced globally every year due to armed conflict and Nigeria is not an exception. Uncountable numbers of persons have lost their life, exposed to different abuse; abandon their homes, property and their family in Nigeria and worldwide in the face of insurgents, political disorder, civil conflict, natural or economic disasters, or other threats (Sambo, 2017). Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) refer to individuals who are victims of displacement due to violence, or natural disasters and have not been able to settle back in their place of origin (WHO, 2019). Recently, Nigeria has experienced large–scale involuntary internal displacement caused by the terrorist group (Boko Haram) insurgency, especially in the North Eastern part of the country. The movement and settlement in improvised camps make the IDPs even more vulnerable to more attacks and various forms of diseases as a result of the lack of care being experienced in the camps. Internal displacement has significant effects on public health and the well-being of the affected populations. These impacts may be categorized and direct due to violence and injury or indirect such as increased rates of infectious diseases and malnutrition (Owoaje, Uchendu, Ajayi & Cadmus, 2020). Several risk factors, which promote communicable diseases, work in synergy during displacement. These factors include movement of mass populations and resettlement in temporary locations, overcrowding, economic and environmental degradation, poverty, inadequacy of safe water, poor sanitation and waste management. The health challenges of the IDPs in Nigeria is further worsened by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic as the conditions of the IDPs are further compounded by the absence of shelter, food shortages and poor access to healthcare which are good platform and opportunity for COVID-19 to thrive. The disruption in public health services also hinders prevention and control programmes consequently resulting in the rise of vector borne diseases such as malaria and yellow fever. In the same vein, routine immunization services are disrupted, thus increasing the number of individuals susceptible to diseases and the risk of epidemics of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) (Connolly, Gayer, Ryan, Salama, Spiegel, & Heymann, 2004). Epidemics of infectious diseases are quite common in IDP camp settings due to inadequate water and sanitation facilities combined with overcrowding which are all major ways of transmitting the deadly novel Corona virus. Having discovered how vulnerable the IDPs could be to contracting COVID-19, health information becomes a key to their survival. Information and knowledge have proven to be formidable and effective weapons so far in the fight against the spread of COVID-19 (Obiwulu, 2020). Across the globe, we have seen and learned from other sources, accounts from different countries of how to successfully prevent COVID-19 incidences. Information of this sort might however not be of interest or fully appreciated by poorly educated persons such as IDPs, even when they can access it, lack of proper comprehension of the situation surrounding the information may make them to devalue the information. For instance, some Nigerians still had to be forcibly barred from gathering publicly only recently. This is an attitude that represents a potential to enable spread of the disease amidst measures to curb it. Norwegian Refugee Council (2017) reported that, “Displaced people face a number of hardships, including lack of access to water, healthcare, shelter, education and a basic income. Sambo (2017) while commenting on the needs of the IDPs asserted that, internally displaced persons, upon safe arrival at their new but temporary location, have basic needs for information such as reasonable information on how to get food, shelter, potable water, healthcare, education, security, clothing etcetera, which must be met in order to stay alive and inhibit social-cultural and security consequences both on themselves and host communities alike. Noting health information needs of individuals, Tucker, Martins and Jones (2017) identified information about disease state, prognosis, treatments, symptom, side effect management and palliation as the major information needs of women with metastatic breast cancer. In a study conducted by Ebrahim, Saif, Buheji, Albasri, Al-Husaini, and Jahrami (2020) on COVID-19 information seeking behavior and anxiety symptoms among parents, findings show that respondents need information about COVID-19 transmissibility, symptoms, treatment, and complications. This findings of the study further revealed that respondents also agreed that they need information on proper way of doing self-quarantine, response to a COVID-19 suspected family member, COVID-19 prevention and protection measures, diet for promoting immune system, physical activity during COVID-19 outbreak as well as how to manage the family time during the COVID-19 outbreak. Ebrahim, Saif, Buheji, Albasri, Al-Husaini, and Jahrami (2020) while discussing the sources of COVID 19 information found that the major sources of COVID 19 information as revealed through his study are social media accounts of official health organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigerian Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) etc; health care professionals such as Doctors, Nurses, midwifes etc; newspaper; friends and family; radio and other broadcast media and social media.
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
INTRODUCTION
In this chapter, we described the research procedure for this study. A research methodology is a research process adopted or employed to systematically and scientifically present the results of a study to the research audience viz. a vis, the study beneficiaries.
RESEARCH DESIGN
Research designs are perceived to be an overall strategy adopted by the researcher whereby different components of the study are integrated in a logical manner to effectively address a research problem. In this study, the researcher employed the survey research design. This is due to the nature of the study whereby the opinion and views of people are sampled. According to Singleton & Straits, (2009), Survey research can use quantitative research strategies (e.g., using questionnaires with numerically rated items), qualitative research strategies (e.g., using open-ended questions), or both strategies (i.e., mixed methods). As it is often used to describe and explore human behaviour, surveys are therefore frequently used in social and psychological research.
POPULATION OF THE STUDY
According to Udoyen (2019), a study population is a group of elements or individuals as the case may be, who share similar characteristics. These similar features can include location, gender, age, sex or specific interest. The emphasis on study population is that it constitutes of individuals or elements that are homogeneous in description.
This study was carried to examine the impact of infectious epidemic on internally displaced person. A case study of coronavirus disease. IDPs in the federal capital territory in Abuja, Nigeria;forms the population of the study.
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
INTRODUCTION
This chapter presents the analysis of data derived through the questionnaire and key informant interview administered on the respondents in the study area. The analysis and interpretation were derived from the findings of the study. The data analysis depicts the simple frequency and percentage of the respondents as well as interpretation of the information gathered. A total of eighty (80) questionnaires were administered to respondents of which only seventy-seven (77) were returned and validated. This was due to irregular, incomplete and inappropriate responses to some questionnaire. For this study a total of 77 was validated for the analysis.
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
Introduction
It is important to ascertain that the objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of infectious epidemic on internally displaced person. A case study of coronavirus disease. In the preceding chapter, the relevant data collected for this study were presented, critically analyzed and appropriate interpretation given. In this chapter, certain recommendations made which in the opinion of the researcher will be of benefits in addressing the challenges of infectious epidemic on internally displaced person. A case study of coronavirus disease
Summary
This study was on the impact of infectious epidemic on internally displaced person. A case study of coronavirus disease. Three objectives were raised which included; To find out the contribution of government to internally displaced person during COVID19, to find out the effect of COVID19 on internally displaced person and to identify COVID 19 information needs of IPDs in the federal capital territory in Abuja, Nigeria. A total of 77 responses were received and validated from the enrolled participants where all respondents were drawn from IPDs in the federal capital territory in Abuja, Nigeria. Hypothesis was tested using Chi-Square statistical tool (SPSS).
Conclusion
Individuals all over the world need information to survive, particularly in the period of the emergence and spread of COVID 19 pandemic that has taken the world by surprise. IPDs are however not left behind as they also need timely information to protect themselves and families from been infected with the virus as they are more vulnerable due to the exposure of the camp where they live. The IDPs therefore needs information on the symptoms of COVID 19, how it spreads, preventive measures against COVID 19, the causes of COVID 19 and how to get medical attention should anyone be confirmed infected at the IPD among others. This information they get from sources such as friends and family at the camp, social media such as Facebook and WhatsApp, radio, Internet and health workers i.e. doctors and nurses. The IDPs use the information they get for the purpose of: knowing the symptoms of the virus; knowing how to prevent themselves from being infected with the virus; knowing how to reach out to health workers in case of suspected COVID 19 patients and knowing the drugs combination for self treatment in case of infection. Despite the need for information for self protection and survival by the IPDs, some factors still stand as barriers to their access to information. Such barriers are lack of frequent visitation to the camps by health official, lack of access to television at the camp, distorted information from friends and family at the camp, too many information on COVID 19, movement restriction by the government and lack of ICT facilities to browse the Internet. In-spite of the barriers to information access by the IDPs, they still seek information to protect themselves and families from being infected with the deadly virus as they have little or no defense and medical attention at their camp due to circumstances beyond their control.
Recommendation
- Efforts should be made by the Federal government of Nigeria to pay special attention to the information needs of the IDPs and devise necessary means of getting timely and accurate information across to them as this will help to keep them up to date about information on COVID 19.
- Health workers such as doctors and nurses should be deployed for visitation to IDPs camp at least twice in a week as this will help the IDPs to seek for information and possibly have them tested and confirm their health status as far as COVID 19 is concerned.
- ICT and facilities should be made available by the government and the NGOs as this will help the IPDs to have access to Internet and social media platform where COVID 19 information are always being circulated.
References
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