Adherence to Lockdown and Social-Distancing Policies Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic: A Behavioral and Socio-Economic Perspective from India

Abstract

The WHO World Malaria Report 2020 states that 94% of malaria cases and 95% of its mortality globally are from Africa. However, in Africa, these rates are expected to be higher due to under detection and asymptomatic cases. In the Central African Republic (CAR), malaria is known to be holoendemic and is transmitted throughout the year. Every year, malaria turns out to be more deadly and destructive in September during the rainy season than any other time. It is the main cause of death for children under five in the country. During periods when malaria transmission is high, eight out of ten pediatric patients are diagnosed with malaria; which results into subsequent complications such as dehydration and anemia. The natural disasters like floods, conflict and violence in CAR are further inflating the epidemiology of this infectious disease resulting in the inability of the people to access care or preventive measures. Consequently, given the limited health care facilities, 57% of its population is in need of humanitarian aid. This situation is expected to further worsen as COVID-19 strikes the country. As of May 22, 2021, there were a total of 7, 010 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Central African Republic in which 96 deaths were recorded. This pandemic further adds burden to a country that is already facing long years of fight against malaria on top of being decimated by decades of violent conflict and poverty. Furthermore, this paper aims to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on malaria in the Central African Republic.