Abstract
Context: Health Care Workers (HCWs) involved in field-level activities are exposed to COVID-19 which puts them under physical and psychological stress. Aim: The objective of this study was to understand the perception of the health care workers regarding their occupational exposure to COVID-19, including the safety measures used during field surveillance activities. Settings and Design: This cross-sectional study was conducted from June 2020 to July 2020 among the health care workers involved in COVID-19 field containment activities in two south Indian states—Telangana and Tamil Nadu. Methods and Material: Respondents were purposively sampled based on their involvement in the COVID-19 field level activities. Sixteen In-Depth Interviewees (IDIs) were conducted telephonically with medical officers, district epidemiologists, community health workers, sanitary workers, emergency medical technicians, and ambulance coordinators. Statistical Analysis Used: IDIs were analyzed using manual thematic analysis. Results: Seven themes and sub-themes emerged: awareness and training, occupational exposure to COVID-19 and duration, safety measures, occupational burnout, social stigma, psychological violence, and facilitating factors. Respondents felt a high level of occupational exposure to COVID-19 in addition to increased workload and stress due to fear of infection, shortage of workforce, denial of week off, psychological violence, and social stigma which affected them deeply. Support from supervisors and family, and measures ensuring the safety of women were facilitating factors to cope with the situation. Conclusions: It is important to safeguard the general and mental health of field-level health workers involved in COVID-19 activities, to keep their morale high during the continuing pandemic.
Highlights
Contact tracing is an essential public health tool in breaking the chain of transmission of any infectious disease
Aim: The objective of this study was to understand the perception of the health care workers regarding their occupational exposure to COVID-19, including the safety measures used during field surveillance activities
The study participants represented Health Care Workers (HCWs) from Primary health centers, Municipal corporations, the Joint Directorate of health service, and the Deputy Directorate of health service. They were included due to their involvement in COVID-19, for us to be able to better understand their perspectives on occupational exposure and safety measures followed during COVID-19 field surveillance activities
Summary
Contact tracing is an essential public health tool in breaking the chain of transmission of any infectious disease. The strategies to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 include case identification, isolation, testing and care, and contact tracing and quarantining. Considering the nature of the transmission and mode of infection of COVID-19, some occupations present an increased risk of exposure and infection with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). One such occupation is Health Care Workers (HCWs) [2]. During the current COVID-19 pandemic in India, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) workers were deployed to conduct house-to-house surveys as a part of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s Model Micro Plan for Containing Local Transmission of Coronavirus Disease [4].
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