Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on socioeconomic and mental health aspects in Nepal.

Kritika Poudel,Pramod Subedi

doi:10.1177/0020764020942247

Kritika Poudel, Pramod Subedi

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764020942247

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Abstract

Background:Public health concern is increasing with recent rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in Nepal. To curb this pandemic, Nepal is facing some forms of lockdown, encouraging people to implement social distancing so as to reduce interactions between people which could eventually reduce the possibilities of new infection; however, it has affected the overall physical, mental, social and spiritual health of the people.Methods:Published articles related to psychosocial effects due to COVID-19 and other outbreaks were searched and reviewed.Conclusion:While many countries are supporting their citizens with sophisticated health safety-nets and various relief funds, some developing countries have unique challenges with vulnerable populations and limited resources to respond to the pandemic. This review presents the consequences of pandemic and lockdown on socioeconomic, mental health and other aspects in Nepalese society.

Highlights

A novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in a seafood market in Wuhan City, Hubei Province in China, at the end of 2019 (Zhu et al, 2020)
With no new case reported in February, a second case of COVID-19 was seen on 23 March, a 19-year-old woman who had returned from France on 17
In the case of death, the pandemic has disrupted the normal bereavement processes of families. These measures are taken for the protection of people from COVID-19, it has created fear, anxiety and uncertainty among the Nepalese, which needs to be addressed immediately

Summary

Introduction

A novel coronavirus named severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in a seafood market in Wuhan City, Hubei Province in China, at the end of 2019 (Zhu et al, 2020). Until this article was prepared (21 June), more than 9,026 and overall 74 districts have been tested positive for the novel coronavirus resulting in different physical, socioeconomic and psychological impacts on the Nepalese (Ministry of Health and Population Nepal, 2020).

Results

Conclusion