COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi : did public sociopolitical events gatherings contribute to its first-wave local transmission?

dc.contributor.authorNyasulua, Juliet Charity Yauka
dc.contributor.authorMunthali, Richard Junganiko
dc.contributor.authorNyondo-Mipando, Alinane Linda
dc.contributor.authorPandya, Himani
dc.contributor.authorNyirenda, Laywell
dc.contributor.authorNyasulu, Peter Suwirakwenda
dc.contributor.authorManda, S.O.M. (Samuel)
dc.date.accessioned2022-04-08T12:09:24Z
dc.date.available2022-04-08T12:09:24Z
dc.date.issued2021-05
dc.description.abstractINTRODUCTION : The COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi emerged amidst widespread anti-government demonstrations and subsequent mass gatherings. This paper describes the incidence and factors associated with the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi. METHODOLOGY : This was a retrospective study of public data analysing geopolitical and immigration activities that occurred between 02 April and 08 September 2020. The Chi-square test of independence was used to tabulate sex and age-related fatality ratios among deaths due to COVID-19-related complications. RESULTS : The drivers for COVID-19 spread were mass gatherings secondary to the country’s political landscape and repatriation of citizens from high-risk areas coupled with minimum use of public health interventions. The prevalence was higher in people aged 50–59 years, males and in urban areas. Men had an increased risk of COVID-19-related deaths (Case Fatality Ratio: 1.58 (95% CI 1.11–2.22) compared with women. Furthermore, men and women aged 40 years were 16.1 times and 7.1 times more likely to die of COVID-related complications, respectively. Men aged 40 years had a 62% increased risk of deaths compared with women of the same age group. CONCLUSION : Mass political gatherings and cross-border immigration from high-risk areas were drivers for infection. Males, older age and urban residence were associated with increased COVID-19 morbidity and mortality. To control the spread of COVID-19 there is a need to regulate mass gatherings and repatriation of citizens, and strengthen the use of preventive health interventions. Men, the older age groups and urban areas should be prioritised for COVID-19 prevention strategies.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentStatisticsen_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2022en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://www.elsevier.com/locate/ijiden_ZA
dc.identifier.citationNyasulu, J.C.Y., Munthali, R.J., Nyondo-Mipando, A.L. et al. 2021, 'COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi : did public sociopolitical events gatherings contribute to its first-wave local transmission?', International Journal of Infectious Diseases, vol. 106, pp. 269-275.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1201-9712 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1878-3511 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.055
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/84850
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherElsevieren_ZA
dc.rights© 2021 The Author(s). This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license.en_ZA
dc.subjectIncidenceen_ZA
dc.subjectPublic and social eventsen_ZA
dc.subjectPolitical eventsen_ZA
dc.subjectMalawien_ZA
dc.subjectCOVID-19 pandemicen_ZA
dc.subjectCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)en_ZA
dc.titleCOVID-19 pandemic in Malawi : did public sociopolitical events gatherings contribute to its first-wave local transmission?en_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

Files

Original bundle

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Nyasulu_COVID19_2021.pdf
Size:
1.7 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Article
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Nyasulu_COVID19_AddfileFigS1_2021.jpg
Size:
641.63 KB
Format:
Joint Photographic Experts Group/JPEG File Interchange Format (JFIF)
Description:
AddfileFigS1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Nyasulu_COVID19_AddfileFigS2_2021.jpg
Size:
565.83 KB
Format:
Joint Photographic Experts Group/JPEG File Interchange Format (JFIF)
Description:
AddfileFigS2
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
Nyasulu_COVID19_AddfileFigS3_2021.jpg
Size:
588.97 KB
Format:
Joint Photographic Experts Group/JPEG File Interchange Format (JFIF)
Description:
AddfileFigS3

License bundle

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.75 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed upon to submission
Description: