Social cohesion among healthcare workers during Covid-19

Qualitative research in Indonesia, Nepal, and Vietnam

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21257955
AutoresHa Nguyen Thanh (0000-0002-5528-6611, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit), Ida Ayu Sutrisni (University of Indonesia), Samita Rijal (0000-0003-4388-2894, Kathmandu University), Aakriti Pandey (Kathmandu University), Thao Phuong Tran (0000-0003-0639-2415, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit), Ragil Dien (University of Indonesia), Yen Hai Thi Nguyen (0000-0002-4277-1570, Oxford University Clinical Research Unit), Yen Nguyen Thi Hong (Oxford University Clinical Research Unit), Diana Timoria (University of Indonesia), Dewi Friska (0000-0002-5994-7528, University of Indonesia), Aria Kekalih (0000-0001-7811-097X, University of Indonesia), Claus Bogh, Abhilasha Karkey (0000-0002-5179-650X, Kathmandu University), Raph L Hamers (0000-0002-5007-7896, University of Indonesia), Mary Chambers (0000-0002-7311-9390, University of Oxford), Sonia Lewycka (0000-0002-5923-9468, University of Oxford), Jennifer I Van Nuil (0000-0002-5167-5505, University of Oxford, autor de correspondencia)
Año2024
Volumen5
Páginas100404
Fecha de publicación2024-06-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaSSM - Qualitative Research in Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2667-3215 • E-ISSN: 2667-3215
EditorialElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.ssmqr.2024.100404
PMID38911289
OpenAlexW4391651262
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas2
Referencias citadas24

Existing literature has portrayed numerous challenges that healthcare workers (HCWs) faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as heightened risks of transmission against the scarcity of protective equipment, burgeoning workload, and emotional distress, to name a few. However, most studies explored HCWs' experiences at the individual level rather than examining the collective responses. Exploring these experiences could reveal the social-cultural locality of the pandemic while identifying the system constraints in public health emergencies. As part of a mixed-method study on COVID-19 pandemic impacts, we analysed qualitative interview data with 129 HCWs and health-related staff to explore their experiences during the pandemic between 2020 and 2021 in Vietnam, Indonesia, and Nepal. Using Bahers' sociological framework, Community of Fate, we describe five themes reflecting the formation of a community of HCWs and the social cohesion underlying their efforts to survive hardship. The first three themes characterise the HCW community of fate, including (1) Recognition of extreme work-related danger, (2) physical and figurative closures where HCWs restrict themselves from the outside world, (3) chronic ordeals with overwhelming workload and responsibilities, encompassing recurrent mental health challenges. Against such extreme hardship, cohesive bonding and social resilience are reflected through two additional themes: (4) a mutual sense of moral and professional duty to protect communities, (5) the vertical and horizontal convergence among HCWs across levels and among government departments. We discuss these HCWs' challenges in relation to systemic vulnerabilities while advocating for increasing investment in public health and collaboration across government sectors to prepare for emergency situations

2019-20 coronavirus outbreak · Disease · Economic growth · Economics · Health care · Political science · Qualitative research · Social science · Socioeconomics · Sociology · COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts · Employment and Welfare Studies · Medicine · Virology