A Nationally Representative Survey of COVID-19 in Pakistan, 2021–2022

Abstract

We conducted 4,863 mobile phone and 1,715 face-to-face interviews of adults > 18 years residing in Pakistan during June 2021–January 2022 that focused on opinions and practices related to COVID-19. Of those surveyed, 26.3% thought COVID-19 was inevitable, and 16.8% had tested for COVID-19. Survey participants who considered COVID-19 an inevitability shared such traits as urban residency, concerns about COVID-19, and belief that the virus is a serious medical threat. Survey respondents who had undergone COVID-19 testing shared similarities regarding employment status, education, mental health screening, and the consideration of COVID-19 as an inevitable disease. From this survey, we modeled suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases and found nearly 3 times as many suspected and confirmed COVID-19 cases than had been reported. Our research also suggested undertesting for COVID-19 even in the presence of COVID-19 symptoms. Further research might help uncover the reasons behind undertesting and underreporting of COVID-19 in Pakistan.

COVID-19 Testing Trend: A Retrospective Analysis of the Three Major Pandemic Waves in Punjab, Pakistan

“…However, overall, in all three waves, only 18.8% (less than one-third) of the participants reported COVID-19 testing with 51.3% (almost half) reporting to have had FLS as well and 35.6% (slightly over one-third) also reported being exposed to FLS by their families (Table 4 ). The testing rate in this study is quite similar to another study conducted in Pakistan which reported a testing rate of 16.8% [ 13 ]. This strongly suggests that the overall testing trend remained low despite high rates of symptoms and exposure which strongly suggests under-reporting of the COVID-19 cases in Pakistan.…”

“…Despite being the world's fifth-most-populous country, Pakistan has recorded the world's 29th-highest death toll (at approximately 23,087) and 29th-highest number of confirmed cases (at approximately 1,011,708 much lower than its neighbors India and Iran till 2021) [ 11 , 12 ]. Pakistan was the first country to suggest and implement a smart lockdown strategy to combat one of the worst pandemics in history [ 13 ]. On the contrary, unfortunately, Pakistan also ranks 103rd out of 132 countries in testing capacity [ 14 ].…”

“…International traveling for education and employment unlike fear was rather very strongly positively associated with testing which shows that legal requirements were a positive factor in the increased testing trend which again is an observation made by Aheron et al as well. Hence it may not be unsafe to say that measures and interventions oriented around education and employment sectors may be effective ways to modify people’s behavior toward infectious disease prevention and management [ 13 ].…”

Global Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…PEPFAR-supported HIV and TB information management systems and diagnostic networks were adapted for SARS-CoV-2 testing in 16 low- to middle-income countries during the pandemic ( 7 ). Surveys provided key data on SARS-CoV-2 cases in Pakistan ( 8 ) and Malawi ( 9 ). Ohlsen et al found international disparities in SARS-CoV-2 sequencing capacity and timeliness while viral genomic surveillance coverage increased globally ( 10 ).…”

Lived experiences of COVID-19 patients admitted in isolation wards of healthcare centers in Peshawar, Pakistan: A phenomenological perspective

“…On February 26, 2020, Pakistan reported its inaugural COVID-19 case, prompting an immediate outbreak declaration. By December 31, 2021, Pakistan had documented over 1,290,000 confirmed cases and 28,909 COVID-19-related deaths [ 2 ]. The initial fatality was recorded on March 18, 2020, in Mardan, KP, Pakistan, sparking increased chaos and fear within the population [ 3 ].…”