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Perceived fear of COVID-19 and its associated factors among Nepalese older adults in eastern Nepal: A cross-sectional study
journal contribution
posted on 2021-10-27, 23:07 authored by Uday N Yadav, Om P Yadav, DR Singh, Saruna Ghimire, Binod Rayamajhee, Sabuj K Mistry, Lal RawalLal Rawal, AM Ali, Man K Tamang, Suresh MehtaCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected all age groups worldwide, but older adults have been affected greatly with an increased risk of severe illness and mortality. Nepal is struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic. The normal life of older adults, one of the vulnerable populations to COVID-19 infection, has been primarily impacted. The current evidence shows that the COVID-19 virus strains are deadly, and non-compliance to standard protocols can have serious consequences, increasing fear among older adults. This study assessed the perceived fear of COVID-19 and associated factors among older adults in eastern Nepal. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between July and September 2020 among 847 older adults (?60 years) residing in three districts of eastern Nepal. Perceived fear of COVID-19 was measured using the seven-item Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S). Multivariate logistic regression identified the factors associated with COVID-19 fear. Results The mean score of the FCV-19S was 18.1 (SD = 5.2), and a sizeable proportion of older adults, ranging between 12%-34%, agreed with the seven items of the fear scale. Increasing age, Dalit ethnicity, remoteness to the health facility, and being concerned or overwhelmed with the COVID-19 were associated with greater fear of COVID-19. In contrast, preexisting health conditions were inversely associated with fear. Conclusion Greater fear of the COVID-19 among the older adults in eastern Nepal suggests that during unprecedented times such as the current pandemic, the psychological needs of older adults should be prioritized. Establishing and integrating community-level mental health support as a part of the COVID-19 preparedness and response plan might help to combat COVID-19 fear among them.Copyright:
History
Volume
16Issue
7Start Page
1End Page
15Number of Pages
15eISSN
1932-6203ISSN
1932-6203Location
United StatesPublisher
Public Library of SciencePublisher License
CC BYPublisher DOI
Additional Rights
CC BY 4.0Language
engPeer Reviewed
- Yes
Open Access
- Yes
Acceptance Date
2021-07-04External Author Affiliations
UNSW; Centre for Research, Policy and Implementation, Department of Infection and Immunology, Ministry of Health and Population. Nepal; Miami University, USA;Era Eligible
- Yes
Medium
Electronic-eCollectionJournal
PLoS ONEArticle Number
e0254825Usage metrics
Categories
Keywords
COVID-19Coronavirus disease 2019NepalOlder adultsPerceived fearFear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S)HumansAcute DiseaseLogistic ModelsCross-Sectional StudiesStress, PsychologicalFearAgedAged, 80 and overMiddle AgedHealth Services AccessibilityFemaleMalePandemicsSARS-CoV-2General Science & TechnologyHealth Information Systems (incl. Surveillance)Primary Health Care