Public Health Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK.
Department of Nursing and Public Health, Kwazulu Natal University, Durban, South Africa.
Health Soc Care Community. 2022 Sep;30(5):e2973-e2979. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13742. Epub 2022 Feb 8.
Low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are affected by an array of health problems ranging from the weak infrastructure health system to the shortage of equipment and qualified personnel in hospitals and other medical facilities. This makes it difficult for health systems in these countries to withstand pandemics like COVID-19 leading to a rapid infection of the population. This research study was set to explore the factors enabling the spread of COVID-19 in the city of Harare. The study utilised an explorative qualitative approach (EQA). The study recruited 40 (N = 40) health professionals who worked for the private sector and the Ministry of Health. One to one semistructured interviews were used to collect data. The data were thematically analysed and presented. Ethical approval was granted by the Joint Research Council of Zimbabwe (JREC). The study found that the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), disregard for social distancing, lack of running water, shortage of clinical supplies, overcrowded living houses, selective enforcement of restrictions and corruption were factors that enabled the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the city of Harare. There is need for more hospitals to be built and fully equipped with the necessary equipment if health delivery and management of people affected by COVID-19 is to be improved. More importantly, the health system needs to be supported by a robust health promotion initiative to enlighten communities on pandemics like COVID-19 and the need to observe utmost hygiene in all spaces.
中低收入国家（LMICs）受到一系列健康问题的影响，从薄弱的基础设施卫生系统到医院和其他医疗设施设备和合格人员的短缺。这使得这些国家的卫生系统难以抵御像 COVID-19 这样的大流行病，导致人口迅速感染。这项研究旨在探讨 COVID-19 在哈拉雷市传播的因素。该研究采用了探索性定性方法（EQA）。该研究招募了 40 名（N=40）在私营部门和卫生部工作的卫生专业人员。采用一对一半结构化访谈收集数据。对数据进行主题分析和呈现。津巴布韦联合研究理事会（JREC）批准了伦理审查。研究发现，个人防护设备（PPE）短缺、不遵守社交距离、缺乏自来水、临床用品短缺、居住房屋拥挤、限制措施选择性执行和腐败是 COVID-19 大流行在哈拉雷市传播的因素。如果要改善医疗服务和管理 COVID-19 感染者，需要建造更多的医院，并配备必要的设备。更重要的是，卫生系统需要得到强有力的健康促进倡议的支持，以使社区了解 COVID-19 等大流行病以及在所有场所保持最高卫生水平的必要性。
