The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Attendance and Perceived Stigmatization Towards Individuals with COVID-19 Like Symptoms in Buea Municipality, Cameroon

Tendongfor Nicholas; Njingti Ruth Bongngi; Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba; Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara; Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Attendance and Perceived Stigmatization Towards Individuals with COVID-19 Like Symptoms in Buea Municipality, Cameroon

Tendongfor Nicholas, Njingti Ruth Bongngi, Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba, Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara, Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng

Published in International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences (Volume 7, Issue 2)

Received: 9 February 2021 Accepted: 24 February 2021 Published: 4 March 2021

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Abstract

Objectives: The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought about fear and uncertainty resulting to stigmatization and discrimination towards those with COVID-19 like symptoms as well as influence the patient influx to health facilities and the health-seeking behaviour of the population. This study assessed the health-seeking behaviour, hospital attendance, and the level of stigmatization of the population towards individuals with COVID-19 like symptoms. Methods: This was a cross-sectional community and hospital-based study carried out to assess hospital attendance, perceived stigmatization and population health-seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Buea Municipality. The trend in the patients' influx in the COVID-19 treatment centre and other health facilities was assessed from March to June 2020 and compared with corresponding months in 2019. The stigmatization data was collected using a modified 12-items stigma scale. The data was analyzed with SPSS version 26. Results: The hospital attendance decreased in the COVID-19 treatment centre from April to June 2020 by -38.3% and increased in non-COVID-19 treatment health facilities by over 70%. Of the 570 participants for the community survey, 322 (56.5%) reported to go for auto medication if they developed COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals with COVID-19 like symptoms experienced moderate (59.1%) to severe (33.9%) perceived stigmatization. Perceived stigmatization was significantly higher (²=14.56, p=0.001) in participants who reported not willing to go to the hospital during the pandemic. Conclusion: The hospital turnout experienced a drop in the COVID-19 treatment centre and an increase in other health facilities. There was high perceived stigmatization towards people with COVID-19 like symptoms, which probably accounted for the population refusal to seek treatment in the COVID-19 treatment center and to resort to auto medication.

Published in	International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11
Page(s)	37-43
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Perceived Stigmatization, Health-seeking Behaviour, Hospital Attendance, Auto-medication, COVID-19

References

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[4]	Ramaci, T., Barattucci, M., Ledda, C., & Rapisarda, V. (2020). Social Stigma during COVID-19 and its Impact on HCWs Outcomes. Sustainability, 12 (9), 3834. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093834.
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[11]	Tam, C.-C. F., Cheung, K.-S., Lam, S., Wong, A., Yung, A., Sze, M., Fang, J., Tse, H.-F., & Siu, C.-W. (2020). Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak on outcome of myocardial infarction in Hong Kong, China. Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions: Official Journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions. https://doi.org/10.1002/ccd.28943.
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Tendongfor Nicholas, Njingti Ruth Bongngi, Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba, Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara, Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng. (2021). The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Attendance and Perceived Stigmatization Towards Individuals with COVID-19 Like Symptoms in Buea Municipality, Cameroon. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, 7(2), 37-43. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11

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ACS Style

Tendongfor Nicholas; Njingti Ruth Bongngi; Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba; Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara; Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng. The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Attendance and Perceived Stigmatization Towards Individuals with COVID-19 Like Symptoms in Buea Municipality, Cameroon. Int. J. Clin. Exp. Med. Sci. 2021, 7(2), 37-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11

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AMA Style

Tendongfor Nicholas, Njingti Ruth Bongngi, Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba, Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara, Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng. The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Attendance and Perceived Stigmatization Towards Individuals with COVID-19 Like Symptoms in Buea Municipality, Cameroon. Int J Clin Exp Med Sci. 2021;7(2):37-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11,
  author = {Tendongfor Nicholas and Njingti Ruth Bongngi and Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba and Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara and Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng},
  title = {The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Attendance and Perceived Stigmatization Towards Individuals with COVID-19 Like Symptoms in Buea Municipality, Cameroon},
  journal = {International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences},
  volume = {7},
  number = {2},
  pages = {37-43},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcems.20210702.11},
  abstract = {Objectives: The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought about fear and uncertainty resulting to stigmatization and discrimination towards those with COVID-19 like symptoms as well as influence the patient influx to health facilities and the health-seeking behaviour of the population. This study assessed the health-seeking behaviour, hospital attendance, and the level of stigmatization of the population towards individuals with COVID-19 like symptoms. Methods: This was a cross-sectional community and hospital-based study carried out to assess hospital attendance, perceived stigmatization and population health-seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Buea Municipality. The trend in the patients' influx in the COVID-19 treatment centre and other health facilities was assessed from March to June 2020 and compared with corresponding months in 2019. The stigmatization data was collected using a modified 12-items stigma scale. The data was analyzed with SPSS version 26. Results: The hospital attendance decreased in the COVID-19 treatment centre from April to June 2020 by -38.3% and increased in non-COVID-19 treatment health facilities by over 70%. Of the 570 participants for the community survey, 322 (56.5%) reported to go for auto medication if they developed COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals with COVID-19 like symptoms experienced moderate (59.1%) to severe (33.9%) perceived stigmatization. Perceived stigmatization was significantly higher (2=14.56, p=0.001) in participants who reported not willing to go to the hospital during the pandemic. Conclusion: The hospital turnout experienced a drop in the COVID-19 treatment centre and an increase in other health facilities. There was high perceived stigmatization towards people with COVID-19 like symptoms, which probably accounted for the population refusal to seek treatment in the COVID-19 treatment center and to resort to auto medication.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Attendance and Perceived Stigmatization Towards Individuals with COVID-19 Like Symptoms in Buea Municipality, Cameroon
AU  - Tendongfor Nicholas
AU  - Njingti Ruth Bongngi
AU  - Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba
AU  - Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara
AU  - Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng
Y1  - 2021/03/04
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11
T2  - International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences
JF  - International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences
JO  - International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences
SP  - 37
EP  - 43
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2469-8032
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11
AB  - Objectives: The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought about fear and uncertainty resulting to stigmatization and discrimination towards those with COVID-19 like symptoms as well as influence the patient influx to health facilities and the health-seeking behaviour of the population. This study assessed the health-seeking behaviour, hospital attendance, and the level of stigmatization of the population towards individuals with COVID-19 like symptoms. Methods: This was a cross-sectional community and hospital-based study carried out to assess hospital attendance, perceived stigmatization and population health-seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Buea Municipality. The trend in the patients' influx in the COVID-19 treatment centre and other health facilities was assessed from March to June 2020 and compared with corresponding months in 2019. The stigmatization data was collected using a modified 12-items stigma scale. The data was analyzed with SPSS version 26. Results: The hospital attendance decreased in the COVID-19 treatment centre from April to June 2020 by -38.3% and increased in non-COVID-19 treatment health facilities by over 70%. Of the 570 participants for the community survey, 322 (56.5%) reported to go for auto medication if they developed COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals with COVID-19 like symptoms experienced moderate (59.1%) to severe (33.9%) perceived stigmatization. Perceived stigmatization was significantly higher (2=14.56, p=0.001) in participants who reported not willing to go to the hospital during the pandemic. Conclusion: The hospital turnout experienced a drop in the COVID-19 treatment centre and an increase in other health facilities. There was high perceived stigmatization towards people with COVID-19 like symptoms, which probably accounted for the population refusal to seek treatment in the COVID-19 treatment center and to resort to auto medication.
VL  - 7
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Tendongfor Nicholas

Department of Public Health and Hygiene, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
Njingti Ruth Bongngi

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba

Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon
Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara

Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon
Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng

Department of Public Health and Hygiene, University of Buea, Buea, Cameroon

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Tendongfor Nicholas, Njingti Ruth Bongngi, Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba, Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara, Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng. (2021). The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Attendance and Perceived Stigmatization Towards Individuals with COVID-19 Like Symptoms in Buea Municipality, Cameroon. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences, 7(2), 37-43. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11

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ACS Style

Tendongfor Nicholas; Njingti Ruth Bongngi; Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba; Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara; Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng. The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Attendance and Perceived Stigmatization Towards Individuals with COVID-19 Like Symptoms in Buea Municipality, Cameroon. Int. J. Clin. Exp. Med. Sci. 2021, 7(2), 37-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11

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AMA Style

Tendongfor Nicholas, Njingti Ruth Bongngi, Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba, Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara, Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng. The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Attendance and Perceived Stigmatization Towards Individuals with COVID-19 Like Symptoms in Buea Municipality, Cameroon. Int J Clin Exp Med Sci. 2021;7(2):37-43. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11,
  author = {Tendongfor Nicholas and Njingti Ruth Bongngi and Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba and Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara and Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng},
  title = {The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Attendance and Perceived Stigmatization Towards Individuals with COVID-19 Like Symptoms in Buea Municipality, Cameroon},
  journal = {International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences},
  volume = {7},
  number = {2},
  pages = {37-43},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcems.20210702.11},
  abstract = {Objectives: The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought about fear and uncertainty resulting to stigmatization and discrimination towards those with COVID-19 like symptoms as well as influence the patient influx to health facilities and the health-seeking behaviour of the population. This study assessed the health-seeking behaviour, hospital attendance, and the level of stigmatization of the population towards individuals with COVID-19 like symptoms. Methods: This was a cross-sectional community and hospital-based study carried out to assess hospital attendance, perceived stigmatization and population health-seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Buea Municipality. The trend in the patients' influx in the COVID-19 treatment centre and other health facilities was assessed from March to June 2020 and compared with corresponding months in 2019. The stigmatization data was collected using a modified 12-items stigma scale. The data was analyzed with SPSS version 26. Results: The hospital attendance decreased in the COVID-19 treatment centre from April to June 2020 by -38.3% and increased in non-COVID-19 treatment health facilities by over 70%. Of the 570 participants for the community survey, 322 (56.5%) reported to go for auto medication if they developed COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals with COVID-19 like symptoms experienced moderate (59.1%) to severe (33.9%) perceived stigmatization. Perceived stigmatization was significantly higher (2=14.56, p=0.001) in participants who reported not willing to go to the hospital during the pandemic. Conclusion: The hospital turnout experienced a drop in the COVID-19 treatment centre and an increase in other health facilities. There was high perceived stigmatization towards people with COVID-19 like symptoms, which probably accounted for the population refusal to seek treatment in the COVID-19 treatment center and to resort to auto medication.},
 year = {2021}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - The Impact of COVID-19 on Hospital Attendance and Perceived Stigmatization Towards Individuals with COVID-19 Like Symptoms in Buea Municipality, Cameroon
AU  - Tendongfor Nicholas
AU  - Njingti Ruth Bongngi
AU  - Mapoure Njankouo Yacouba
AU  - Ebiambu Ondoh Agwara
AU  - Ako Carol Shenelle Mbeng
Y1  - 2021/03/04
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11
T2  - International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences
JF  - International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences
JO  - International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medical Sciences
SP  - 37
EP  - 43
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2469-8032
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcems.20210702.11
AB  - Objectives: The outbreak of COVID-19 has brought about fear and uncertainty resulting to stigmatization and discrimination towards those with COVID-19 like symptoms as well as influence the patient influx to health facilities and the health-seeking behaviour of the population. This study assessed the health-seeking behaviour, hospital attendance, and the level of stigmatization of the population towards individuals with COVID-19 like symptoms. Methods: This was a cross-sectional community and hospital-based study carried out to assess hospital attendance, perceived stigmatization and population health-seeking behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Buea Municipality. The trend in the patients' influx in the COVID-19 treatment centre and other health facilities was assessed from March to June 2020 and compared with corresponding months in 2019. The stigmatization data was collected using a modified 12-items stigma scale. The data was analyzed with SPSS version 26. Results: The hospital attendance decreased in the COVID-19 treatment centre from April to June 2020 by -38.3% and increased in non-COVID-19 treatment health facilities by over 70%. Of the 570 participants for the community survey, 322 (56.5%) reported to go for auto medication if they developed COVID-19 symptoms. Individuals with COVID-19 like symptoms experienced moderate (59.1%) to severe (33.9%) perceived stigmatization. Perceived stigmatization was significantly higher (2=14.56, p=0.001) in participants who reported not willing to go to the hospital during the pandemic. Conclusion: The hospital turnout experienced a drop in the COVID-19 treatment centre and an increase in other health facilities. There was high perceived stigmatization towards people with COVID-19 like symptoms, which probably accounted for the population refusal to seek treatment in the COVID-19 treatment center and to resort to auto medication.
VL  - 7
IS  - 2
ER  -

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