COVID-19 Pandemic Challenges of Migrants and Vulnerable Population: Learnings for Future Epidemic Preparedness

Abstract

Abstract Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic-related lockdown, the migrant workers faced prejudice, fear and social exclusion, amongst other difficulties. Materials and Methods: Stratified random sampling was utilised to recruit 433 participants from an outpatient department screening clinic. Fear and knowledge of COVID-19 were measured with the Likert scale scores. The data were analysed using the Chi-square tests and logistic regression. P < 0.05 consirdered statistically significant. Results: Only 12.2% of participants possessed effective COVID-19 prevention knowledge. Working Professionals possessed superior knowledge to unskilled workers. Low knowledge scores and manual labour were associated with fear of COVID-19. For fear, the odds ratio (OR) was 5.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) (2.35–11.51) and the adjusted OR (aOR) was 6. 8, 95% CI (2.7–17.2), P < 0.00. Discussion: Low levels of COVID-19 preventive knowledge indicate that the government’s Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign was ineffective. This could be because the campaign did not reach enough individuals, or because the information was ambiguous. As a consequence, COVID-19 prevention myths and false information circulated, making it challenging for people to protect themselves. Conclusion: The targeted and efficient IEC campaigns are required to tackle infectious disease outbreaks and epidemics. Public health specialists as well as clinicians should be trained in these efforts.