Community Voices and Knowledge of Migrant Labourers Around COVID-19 Pandemic During Lockdown: A Mixed Method Cross Sectional Survey from New Delhi, India

Abstract

Background: India was quick to implement a complete lockdown to prevent the transmission of the novel coronavirus, which had a significant impact on the migrant labourers. The Government responded quickly to the situation by providing them food and shelter. However, there is absence of scientifically collected data regarding the knowledge, practice and perception of the migrant labourers related to the crisis from Delhi, India. The present survey was conducted to assess the knowledge, practice and perception of the migrant labourers and their family members about COVID-19 pandemic and sudden lockdown. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted by the department of Geriatric Medicine, AIIMS, New Delhi in association with Healthy Aging India, a non-profit organization registered under the Indian Societies Act, 1860, from 1 May to 30 June 2020, after receiving ethical clearance from AIIMS (IEC/411/4/2020). Data was collected from the migrant labourers living in urban slums using qualitative probes and quantitative questionnaires. Findings: The survey included 220 respondents with their mean age as 31.99 ± 10.81 years. The majority were well informed about the importance of wearing masks (90.9%) and maintaining physical distancing 90.45%. While 91.36% agreed that it was important to avoid going out of their home, 88.18% knew that every individual could be a potential source of infection. As per the qualitative response, the respondents were bothered about food, employment and returning to their native places. Interpretation: This survey emphasized the need of community engagement and participation in handling the pandemic.Funding Statement: No funding was received for this survey.Declaration of Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.Ethics Approval Statement: Clearance from the institute ethics committee, was obtained prior to the commencement of the study (IEC/411/4/2020).