July 5, 2021 Journal article Open Access

Jude Alawa; Samir Al-Ali2; Lucas Walz; Eleanor Wiles; Nikhil Harle; Mohamed Abdullahi Awale; Deqo Mohamed; Kaveh Khoshnood

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{
  "@context": "https://schema.org/", 
  "@id": "https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.17.20176271", 
  "@type": "ScholarlyArticle", 
  "creator": [
    {
      "@type": "Person", 
      "name": "Jude Alawa"
    }, 
    {
      "@type": "Person", 
      "name": "Samir Al-Ali2"
    }, 
    {
      "@type": "Person", 
      "name": "Lucas Walz"
    }, 
    {
      "@type": "Person", 
      "name": "Eleanor Wiles"
    }, 
    {
      "@type": "Person", 
      "name": "Nikhil Harle"
    }, 
    {
      "@type": "Person", 
      "name": "Mohamed Abdullahi Awale"
    }, 
    {
      "@type": "Person", 
      "name": "Deqo Mohamed"
    }, 
    {
      "@type": "Person", 
      "name": "Kaveh Khoshnood"
    }
  ], 
  "datePublished": "2021-07-05", 
  "description": "<p><strong>Background:</strong></p>\n\n<p>Three million internally displaced Somalis live in overcrowded settlements with weakened infrastructure, insufficient access to WASH facilities, and inaccessible health services.This vulnerable population is especially susceptible to COVID-19, which is expected to have worsened health outcomes and exacerbate existing structural challenges in the implementation of public health measures. This study examines knowledge of COVID-19, self-reported prevalence of preexisting conditions, and access to essential health services among residents of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Somalia.<br>\n<strong>Methods:</strong></p>\n\n<p>A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design assessing demographics, current health profiles, knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19, and access to resources was used. 401 Somali IDP camp residents completed the survey.<br>\n<strong>Results:</strong></p>\n\n<p>Though 77% of respondents reported taking at least one COVID-19 preventative public health measure, respondents reported a severe lack of access to adequate sanitation, an inability to practice social distancing, and nearly universal inability to receive a COVID-19 screening exam. Questions assessing knowledge surrounding COVID-19 prevention and treatment yielded answers of &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t know&rdquo; for roughly 50% of responses. The majority were not familiar with basic information about the virus or confident that they could receive medical services if infected. Those who perceived their health status to be &ldquo;fair,&rdquo; as opposed to &ldquo;good,&rdquo; showed 5.69<br>\ntimes higher odds of being concerned about contracting COVID-19. Respondents who felt more anxious or nervous and those who introduced one behavioral change to protect against COVID-19 transmission showed 10.16 and 5.20 times increased odds of being concerned about disease contraction, respectively.<br>\n<strong>Conclusion:</strong></p>\n\n<p>This study highlights immense gaps in the knowledge and perceptions of COVID-19 and access to treatment and preventative services among individuals living in Somali IDP camps. A massive influx of additional resources is required to adequately address COVID-19 in Somalia, starting with educating those individuals most vulnerable to infection.</p>", 
  "headline": "Knowledge and Perception of COVID-19, Prevalence of Pre-Existing Conditions, and Access to Essential Resources and Health Services in Somali IDP Camps", 
  "identifier": "https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.08.17.20176271", 
  "image": "https://zenodo.org/static/img/logos/zenodo-gradient-round.svg", 
  "inLanguage": {
    "@type": "Language", 
    "alternateName": "eng", 
    "name": "English"
  }, 
  "keywords": [
    "COVID-19", 
    "Conflict", 
    "Internally Displaced Persons", 
    "Somalia", 
    "Humanitarian Health", 
    "Infectious Diseases", 
    "Wash"
  ], 
  "license": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/", 
  "name": "Knowledge and Perception of COVID-19, Prevalence of Pre-Existing Conditions, and Access to Essential Resources and Health Services in Somali IDP Camps", 
  "url": "https://sorer.somaliren.org.so/record/208", 
  "version": "August 19, 2020"
}