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Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Odisha, India: Knowledge, Preventative Actions, and Impacts on Daily Life

Author

Listed:
  • Valerie Bauza

    (Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

  • Gloria D. Sclar

    (Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
    Department of Psychology, University of Zürich, 8006 Zürich, Switzerland)

  • Alokananda Bisoyi

    (Independent Consultant, Berhampur, Odisha 760001, India)

  • Ajilé Owens

    (Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

  • Apurva Ghugey

    (Gram Vikas, Bhubaneswar, Odisha 751009, India)

  • Thomas Clasen

    (Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA)

Abstract

We conducted 131 semi-structured phone interviews with householders in rural Odisha, India to explore participants’ COVID-19 related knowledge, perceptions, and preventative actions, as well as how the pandemic affected their daily life, economic and food security, and the village-level response. Interviews were conducted with 73 heads of household, 37 primary caregivers, and 21 members of village water and sanitation committees from 43 rural villages in Ganjam and Gajapati districts in Odisha state. The study took place between May–July 2020 throughout various lockdown restrictions and at a time when many migrant workers were returning to their villages and cases were rising. Most respondents could name at least one correct symptom of COVID-19 (75%), but there was lower knowledge about causes of the disease and high-risk groups, and overall COVID-19 knowledge was lowest among caregivers. Respondents reported high compliance with important preventative measures, including staying home as much as possible (94%), social distancing (91%), washing hands frequently (96%), and wearing a facial mask (95%). Additionally, many respondents reported job loss (31%), financial challenges (93%), challenges related to staying home whether as a preventative measure or due to lockdowns (57%), changes in types and/or amount of food consumed (61%), and adverse emotional effects as a result of the pandemic and lockdown. We also provide detailed summaries of qualitative responses to allow for deeper insights into the lived experience of villagers during this pandemic. Although the research revealed high compliance with preventative measures, the pandemic and associated lockdowns also led to many challenges and hardships faced in daily life particularly around job loss, economic security, food security, and emotional wellbeing. The results underscore the vulnerability of marginalized populations to the pandemic and the need for measures that increase resilience to large-scale shocks.

Suggested Citation

  • Valerie Bauza & Gloria D. Sclar & Alokananda Bisoyi & Ajilé Owens & Apurva Ghugey & Thomas Clasen, 2021. "Experience of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Rural Odisha, India: Knowledge, Preventative Actions, and Impacts on Daily Life," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-17, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:2863-:d:515039
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cuiyan Wang & Riyu Pan & Xiaoyang Wan & Yilin Tan & Linkang Xu & Cyrus S. Ho & Roger C. Ho, 2020. "Immediate Psychological Responses and Associated Factors during the Initial Stage of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Epidemic among the General Population in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-25, March.
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    1. Sangeeta Chatterji & Lotus McDougal & Nicole Johns & Mohan Ghule & Namratha Rao & Anita Raj, 2021. "COVID-19-Related Financial Hardship, Job Loss, and Mental Health Symptoms: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study in a Rural Agrarian Community in India," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Ratchadaporn Papwijitsil & Hathairat Kosiyaporn & Pigunkaew Sinam & Mathudara Phaiyarom & Sataporn Julchoo & Rapeepong Suphanchaimat, 2021. "Factors Related to Health Risk Communication Outcomes among Migrant Workers in Thailand during COVID-19: A Case Study of Three Provinces," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Anuradha Mathrani & Rahila Umer & Tarushikha Sarvesh & Janak Adhikari, 2023. "Rural–Urban, Gender, and Digital Divides during the COVID-19 Lockdown: A Multi-Layered Study," Societies, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-18, May.

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