Main Article Content

Abstract


ABSTRACT
Introduction. Research about Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) socio-economic impact on populations in Cameroon is almost non-existent. This research aimed to study the diagnosis, the knowledge gap on the experiences and coping strategies of COVID-19 patients. Methodology. We conducted a cross-sectional study with retrospective and prospective data collection on COVID-19 patients at the Bertoua Regional Hospital care unit, from May 2020 to April 2023. A database covering the participants' socio-demographic and diagnostic information’s, and an online survey tool using google form were adapted from five questionnaires to highlight participants' experiences and describe their coping strategies. Results. We studied 364 COVID-19 patients. The most common signs and symptoms were cough (23.9%), fatigue (23.4%) and running nose (19.7%). Antigenic Rapid Diagnostic test was the most used (74%) from our findings. The presence of stigma by medical personnel was not associated with gender (P = 0.93), marital status (P = 0.45), presence of symptoms (P = 0.58). All factors showed a satisfactory internal consistency (as Cronbach's alpha>0.70). Average scores were reported for mental disengagement (2.8 ± 0.84), active and instrumental adaptation (2.7 ± 0.86), as well as suppression of competing activity (2.6±0.84), thus were the most adopted coping strategies. Conclusion. Based on the current research results, COVID-19 patients dealt with self-esteem, self-stigmatization and developed mental disorders. There is need to focus on the experiences and coping strategies of patients during the infection period and post-recovery during pandemics.
RÉSUMÉ
Introduction. La recherche sur l'impact socio-économique du Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) sur les populations au Cameroun est presque inexistante. Cette recherche visait à étudier le diagnostic, le manque de connaissances sur les expériences et les stratégies d'adaptation des patients atteints de COVID-19. Méthodologie. Nous avons mené une étude transversale avec collecte de données rétrospectives et prospectives sur les patients atteints de COVID-19 à l'unité de soins de l'hôpital régional de Bertoua, de mai 2020 à avril 2023. Une base de données couvrant les informations sociodémographiques et diagnostiques des participants, et un outil d'enquête en ligne utilisant google form ont été adaptés à partir de cinq questionnaires pour mettre en évidence les expériences des participants et décrire leurs stratégies d'adaptation. Résultats. Nous avons étudié 364 patients atteints de COVID-19. Les signes et symptômes les plus courants étaient la toux (23,9 %), la fatigue (23,4 %) et le nez qui coule (19,7 %). D'après nos résultats, le test de diagnostic rapide antigénique était le plus utilisé (74 %). La présence de stigmatisation par le personnel médical n'était pas associée au sexe (P = 0,93), à l'état civil (P = 0,45), à la présence de symptômes (P = 0,58). Tous les facteurs ont montré une cohérence interne satisfaisante (alpha de Cronbach>0,70). Des scores moyens ont été rapportés pour le désengagement mental (2,8 ± 0,84), l'adaptation active et instrumentale (2,7 ± 0,86), ainsi que la suppression d'activités concurrentes (2,6±0,84), qui sont donc les stratégies d'adaptation les plus adoptées. Conclusion. D'après les résultats de la recherche actuelle, les patients atteints de COVID-19 ont été confrontés à l'estime de soi, à l'autostigmatisation et ont développé des troubles mentaux. Il est nécessaire de se concentrer sur les expériences et les stratégies d'adaptation des patients pendant la période d'infection et après la guérison pendant les pandémies.

Keywords

Diagnosis experiences Covid-19 Bertoua Regional Hospital Cameroon Diagnostic Vécu patients Covid-19 Cameroun

Article Details

How to Cite
Vendeline Amaelle Goretti Mvong, Souleymane Sekou Diarra, Jean Marc Léré Tiama, Audrey Inna Nana Mbezou, Joel Lonla Nzougouat, Emilia Enjema Lyonga, Christian Gansi Abanda, Alexis Ousmane Deke, & Innocent Takougang. (2024). Diagnosis, Experiences and Coping Strategies of COVID-19 Patients in Bertoua: Diagnostic, Vécu et Stratégies d’Adaptation des Patients COVID-19 à l’Hôpital Régional de Bertoua . HEALTH SCIENCES AND DISEASE, 25(10). Retrieved from https://hsd-fmsb.org/index.php/hsd/article/view/6110

References

  1. World Health Organisation (WHO). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) [Inter-net]. Geneva Switzerland: World Health Organisation Health Emergency Dash-board; 2023 [updated 2023; cited 2023 April 12]. Available from: https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus.
  2. Cennimo DJ, Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19) Clinical presentation. Med-scape. 2023 Apr 6. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2500114-clinical
  3. Shen M, Zhou Y, Ye J, Al-Maskri AA, Kang Y, Zeng S, et al. Recent advances and perspectives of nucleic acid detection for coronavirus. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis. 2020 March 1; 10: 97–101.
  4. World Health Organisation (WHO). Situation and Reponse in the WHO AFRO Re-gion. COVID-19 Response in Africa Bulletin. 2023 Febuary; Issue 10: p. 1-23. Available from: https://www.afro.who.int/sites/default/files/202303/Final_Dec_Feb23_COVID-19%20Bulletin_AFRO.pdf.
  5. World Health Organisation (WHO). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) [Inter-net].Geneva Switzerland: World Health Organisation Health Emergency Dash-board; 2023 [updated 2023; cited 2023 April 19]. Available from: https://covid19.who.int/region/afro/country/cm.
  6. Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Center (PHEOCCP/MOH). Cameroon Covid-19 Situation Report No 171 [Internet]. Cameroon: Public Health Emergency Operations Coordination Center; 2023 [updated 2023; cited 2023 March 8]. https://www.ccousp.cm/download/cameroon-covid-19-situation-report-n171/.
  7. Sanushka N, Gitaka J, Suliman S, Baptista S, Oyedemi MB, Nepolo E, Enany S. Coronavirus Disease 2019 Diagnostics: Key to Africa's Recovery. DNA and Cell Biology. 2022 Jan 12; 41(1): 30-33.
  8. World Health Organisation. Antigen-detection in the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Interim guidance. 2021 October 6; WHO/2019-nCoV/Antigen_Detection/2021.1.
  9. Page M, Almond N, Rose NJ, Schneider CK. Diagnostics and the coronavirus: don't let the standards slip. Nat Biotechnol. 2020 may 22; 38: 673–674.
  10. Hellou MM, Gorska A, Mazzaferri F, Cremonini E, Gentilotti E, De Nardo P, et al. Nucleic-acid-amplification tests from respiratory samples for the diagnosis of coronavirus infections: systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Microbiol In-fect. 2020 nov 11; 27(3): 341–351.
  11. Tejiokem Mathurin Cyrille , Sadeuh-Mba Serge , Tchatchueng Mbougwa Jules Brice , Tagnouokam Ngoupo Paul Alain , Ngondi Grace , Fokam Joseph , Hamadou Achta , Nke Gisele , Nwobegahay Julius , Tongo Marcel , ` Sander Melissa , Ndip Lucy , Perraut Ronald , Okomo Assoumou Marie Claire , Pefura Yone Eric Walter , Etoundi Mballa Georges Alain , Njouom Richard , Eyangoh Sara , Clinical presen-tation of the Coronavirus disease 2019 at the time of testing and associated factors to presymptomatic cases in Cameroon, IJID Regions (2022), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijregi.2022.05.010
  12. Guy Pascal Ngaba et al. Evaluation de deux tests de diagnostic antigénique du COVID-19: BIOSYNEX® COVID-19 Ag BSS et BIOSYNEX ® COVID-19 Ag+ BSS comparés à la PCR AmpliQuick® SARS-CoV-2 . Pan African Medical Jour-nal. 2021;39(228).10.11604/pamj.2021.39.228.30752
  13. Shen M, Zhou Y, Ye J, Al-Maskri AA, Kang Y, Zeng S, et al. Recent advances and perspectives of nucleic acid detection for coronavirus. Journal of Pharmaceutical Analysis. 2020 March 1; 10: 97–101.
  14. Ahmadi S, Jorjoran Shushtari Z, Shirazikhah M, Biglarian A, Irandoost SF, Paykani T et al. Social determinants of adherence to COVID-19 preventive guide-lines in Iran: a qualitative study. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organiza-tion, Provision, and Financing. 2022 Rhag 1;59. Epub 2022 Maw 29. doi: 10.1177/00469580221084185
  15. AlKuwaiti M, Hamada BA, Aljneibi N, Paulo MS, Elbarazi I. The Effect of COVID-19 Diagnosis on the Physical, Social, and Psychological Well-Being of People in the United Arab Emirates: An Explorative Qualitative Study. Front. Pub-lic Health. 2022 May 26; 10: 866-078.
  16. Ndoue MG, Sandra LN, Placide AA, Steve AA, Dorine AM, Danielle FM, et al. Epidemiological profile of covid19 infection and assessment of knowledges and practices of its barrier measures by the population from the East Cameroon Re-gion. Journal of Medecine and Health. 2020 October 16; 5(1): 36-46.
  17. Choffor-Nchinda E, Atanga LC, Fokouo FJV, Nyada FB, Me-Meke GP. COVID-19 Knowledge, Attitude and Practice One Year after: A Study of Adults from Ear-Nose-Throat Departments of Cameroon. Health Sci. Dis. 2021 July; 22(7): 52-57.
  18. Mbiaketcha NIS, Buh NC, Tchio-Nighie KH, Njoudap M, Nguegoue TF, Ateudjieu J. Chronic diseases and mortality among hospitalised COVID-19 patients at Bafoussam Regional Hospital in the West region of Cameroon. PLOS Glob Public Health . 2023 Febuary23; 3(2): e0001572.
  19. Kouanfack C, Kuathe K, Zemsi S, Edingue A, Youm E, Nangmo A, Effect of stig-ma on COVID-19 cases management at the treatment unit of Yaounde Central Hospital, Cameroon. Niger Health Sci. 2022; 22: 51-5.
  20. Haddad C, Bou Malhab S, Malaeb D, Sacre H, Saadeh D, Mourtada V, Salameh P. Stigma toward people with COVID-19 among the Lebanese population: a cross-sectional study of correlates and mediating effects. BMC Psychol. 2021 Oct 22;9(1):164.
  21. Azmi FM, Khan HN, Azmi AM, Yaswi A, Jakovljevic M. Prevalence of COVID-19 Pandemic, Self-Esteem and Its Effect on Depression among University Students in Saudi Arabia. Front. Public Health. 2022 February; 10: 836-688.
  22. Oker K, Reinhardt M, Schmelowszky Á. Effects of COVID-19 on Mental Health and Its Relationship With Death Attitudes and Coping Styles Among Hungarian, Norwegian, and Turkish Psychology Students. Front. Psychol. 2022 Febuary 7; 13: 812-720.
  23. Hossain KMA, Shafin R, Yeasmin MH, Jahid IK, Hossain MA, Rana S, Kabir MF, Chokrovorty SK, Faruqui R. Community Coping Strategies for COVID-19 in Bangladesh: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey. COVID 2023. 2023March 3; 3:320–335N, Howlett W, et al. Neurosyphilis in Africa: A systematic review. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2017; 11: e0005880.