Protective Behaviors and Secondary Harms Resulting From Nonpharmaceutical Interventions During the COVID-19 Epidemic in South Africa: Multisite, Prospective Longitudinal Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In March 2020, South Africa implemented strict nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to contain the spread of COVID-19. Over the subsequent 5 months, NPI policies were eased in stages according to a national strategy. COVID-19 spread throughout the country heterogeneously; the disease reached rural areas by July and case numbers peaked from July to August. A second COVID-19 wave began in late 2020. Data on the impact of NPI policies on social and economic well-being and access to health care are limited.

Objective

We aimed to determine how rural residents in three South African provinces changed their behaviors during the first COVID-19 epidemic wave.

Methods

The South African Population Research Infrastructure Network nodes in the Mpumalanga (Agincourt),

SUBMITTER: Harling G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8121138 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature