Increased Risk of Death Triggered by Domestic Violence, Hunger, Suicide, Exhausted Health System during COVID-19 Pandemic: Why, How and Solutions

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, just like many other public health emergencies, is a well-established global health burden that has resulted in several changes in routines and lifestyles of people globally. The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has directly or indirectly involved in the loss of lives of more than 3.24 million as of 6th May, 2021. The increasing threats posed by this pandemic were subsided by the swift and drastic measures put in place by different countries. As other causes of death before the emergence of COVID-19 still exist, the pandemic has further worsened their impact. The increased risks of COVID-19 deaths are not only due to the health burden it possesses, but also due to some other factors. These factors include domestic violence that becomes rampant, especially during lockdowns; hunger due to low economic development, unemployment, and loss of jobs; suicide due to depression; exhausted health system due to high level of COVID-19 cases and inability to contain it. As we move from the response phase into recovery, the pandemic’s direct and broader impacts on individuals, households, and communities will influence the capacity to recover. An understanding of these impacts is therefore required to develop priorities to support recovery. This paper identifies other causes of death amidst the pandemic, such as domestic violence, hunger, suicide, and exhausted health system, and how to minimize their effects.

Feelings of Entrapment during the COVID-19 Pandemic Based on ACE Star Model: A Concept Analysis

“…Lockdown system or situation during the COVID-19 [3,6,18,26,29,[35][36][37][38][39][40][41], impairment to social and occupational functioning [9] Restricted situation Social consequences of COVID-19 [3], restrictions [35], physical distancing and self-isolation [36], isolation [29,42], reduced social opportunities [42], social restriction [38], isolation and loneliness/reduced contact with key individuals/ living alone/cessation or reduction of service (including absence of face to face support) [16], limited/restricted [43], social distancing [6,18,29,40,43], losing direct social and physical contact [9], restricted in a situation [44] Uncertain future…”

“…Uncertainty or concerns about the future [3], uncertainty [42], uncertain future [45], no end in sight asks them to feel helpless at least for the foreseeable future [44] Economic hardship Economic consequences of COVID-19 [3], loss of jobs occupying the premium position [37], economic hardship [37,42], temporary or permanently lost job and income [43], economic recession [40], financial stress [29] Poor coping abilities Stress of many perfectionists who are trying to cope with the pandemic [44], pooper coping abilities [29] Attributes…”

“…Increased suicide Suicide ideation [3,6], self-harm [15,16], risk factors of suicide [9,14,15,18], suicide [6,29,35,37,42,44], suicidal intent and behavior [47], suicidality [46], suicidal actions and ambivalent to living or dying [6] Decreased mental health Decreased mental health problem [3,16,29,44], feeling isolated and the specific mirroring of abuse [38], foster neglect and abuse [40] Decreased well-being Decreased well-being [3,29], negative wellbeing [36], affect their care and wellbeing [40] (1) Out of control The situation during the COVID-19 pandemic is out of control; an individual's ability to control impulses and modify inappropriate emotions and thoughts [48,49] and the world is desperately exhausted [48]. Out of control is.…”

Threats of evictions in the USA: A public health concern

“…Many evicted families claim that their kids had to switch schools as a result of the eviction. Tenants who have been evicted are more likely than tenants who have not been evicted to move into residences of inferior quality (i.e., homes with damaged appliances, exposed cables, or insufficient heating) and experience more subsequent moves [ 8 ]. Eviction can also have disastrous financial repercussions; tenants who have been evicted are more likely than other renters to rely on welfare programs, lose their jobs, and have limited access to credit.…”

“…Promoting health equity and enhancing public health across the nation require policies that lessen evictions. The COVID-19 pandemic's economic effects have recently raised the number of renters at risk of being evicted [ 4 , 8 ]. The pandemic's major infection prevention tactics are undermined by housing instability, which exacerbates the negative health effects of eviction.…”