The Covid-19 pandemic in low- and middle-income countries, who carries the burden? Review of mass media and publications from six countries

Abstract

Rich countries used In the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown and physical distancing policies for transmission control. However, are these measures also suitable in countries with a fragile economy resting mainly on the informal sector? The impact of lockdown measures in disadvantaged population strata in six Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) was reviewed using i) systematic review of 17 published papers and ii) review of 90 media reports. Those who most suffered from the lockdown were migrants, workers in the informal sector (which is huge), small businesses, slum dwellers, women and elderly revealing the social, cultural and economic inequalities of societies.Financial and food support for the poor was inadequate and sometimes mismanaged. In the better organized societies, the resilience was stronger (South Korea, Kerala/India) but also here the poor had to suffer most. It is strongly recommended that outbreak response strategies should particularly focus on the poor and vulnerable population.

Investigating Poor Sleep Quality and Associated Factors During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Population-Based Survey in Bangladesh

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has not only exacerbated extreme poverty in lower-and middle-income countries (LMICs), but has also triggered mental health problems (27). So, it is very important to investigate sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic among general people in LMICs including Bangladesh, as they are dealing with economic instabilities, poverty, joblessness, food insecurity, and inability to access medicine (28)(29)(30).…”

Psychological Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh: Analysis of a Cross-Sectional Survey

“…[19][20][21] Daily wage earners and lower-to middle-income earners who lost their jobs or were unable to feed their families also experienced anxiety and stress, which in some cases led to suicide. [22][23][24] Young adults reported psychosocial effects following school closures and the inability to see their classmates for a long time or be involved in physical or social activities. [25][26][27][28] There were also reports of depression and anxiety among university students in Bangladesh, particularly medical students, due to educational, financial, and professional insecurity.…”

The dilemma of treating the infected versus the wounded: Gaza's healthcare system is choked

“…1 The nature of the crisis has deeply overwhelmed countries with wellestablished healthcare systems and made low and middle-income countries-especially those with prevalent geopolitical instability and pre-existing healthcare-related impediments-utterly vulnerable to both healthcarerelated and economic challenges. [2][3][4] One of the regions facing such daunting challenges is the occupied Palestinian territory (Gaza and the West Bank) that has an already overburdened and underequipped healthcare system hence, the pandemic is causing an immense strain on the sparse facilities. Gaza, with a population of 2 million, particularly has faced political turmoil since decades, making it a densely populated area with underdeveloped infrastructure and a desperate public health situation.…”