Dear Editor,
COVID-19 emerged in the world toward the end of December 2019, with many nations confronted
by the reality of the existing poor standard of living, low gross domestic products,
and weak health systems, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Several countries
within the region launched various public health responses in line with the World
Health Organization recommendation in order to curtail the spread of the infection
among the populace. These measures include lockdown of country and state borders,
physical distancing measures, and more. However, as the testing capacity for the disease
increased, it became evident that there has been community spread despite these efforts.
Sociocultural and economic factors have been well documented as determinants of health
and diseases. The social determinants of diseases illustrate the link between poverty
and health outcomes, and in this pandemic, it may not be wrong to suggest that these
same factors may play out in determining the spread, severity, and/or containment
of the current outbreak in the region. There is a need to understand the sociocultural
and economic context of the countries in the region as this might impact the epidemic
response effort of the countries. The increasing number of cases recorded is indicative
of the SSA region not been spared and the need to urgently look at the peculiarity
of the region. Prepandemic underlying poverty with food insecurity in the region and
the need for daily income earners to earn a living exposes them to the risk of contracting
the disease. Socioeconomic disadvantages heighten vulnerability to illness and diseases;
the lack of social welfare and work support in the informal economic sector in most
SSA countries makes it very difficult for workers to adhere to recommended measures.
Social protection is essential in the response and curtailing of public health emergencies.[[1]],[[2]] The lack of social protection in the phase of economic difficulty occasioned by
the pandemic might worsen the spread of COVID-19.
The diverse cultural beliefs and practices toward health and diseases among people
in the region influence people's perceptions of diseases and probably disease outbreak;
this impacts actions taken by people in protecting themselves from diseases and prevention
of the spread of diseases, especially if families and friends are concerned. Collective
responsibility is often weakened when family ties are involved regardless of the risk
of infection. This weakness affects rational thinking and behavior, care seeking,
and personal effort toward containing the spread of infections. The way forward in
tackling the spread of COVID-19 is in addressing context-specific sociocultural and
economic influences as quickly as possible. States must address culture and beliefs
which impact disease perception. It is essential to develop a sincere, effective,
unpoliticized social welfare system that is entrenched into the economic and development
plan of countries in the region in spite of the likelihood that many nation's economies
may contract substantially. Governments in the region must come up with appropriate
strategies to minimize the impact of the pandemic on the health and economies of families
in the long run.
