SOCIOECONOMIC AND PSYCHOSOCIAL FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH SOLIDARITY AND PROSOCIAL BEHAVIOUR DURING COVID-19

The novel virus SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, has had a profound global impact on health, social wellbeing, and economies, with especially devastating effects on vulnerable populations. A remarkable response to the pandemic was the large-scale enactments of solidarity and prosocial behaviour in different regions of the world. We explore the factors associated with solidarity/prosocial behaviour (regarded as components of the same construct in this study) among South Africans during the second wave of COVID-19. Specifically, this study aimed to determine whether the financial, social, and psychosocial impact of lockdown, living circumstances and resources, fear of contracting COVID-19, trust in information provided by government and institutions, perceptions of procedural justice affecting COVID-19 mitigation implementation, and support for mitigation measures were associated with solidarity/prosocial behaviour during COVID-19. Using a cross-sectional survey, a questionnaire was administered to a randomly selected national sample through Computer-Aided Telephonic Interviews (CATI) and self-completion. Most (67.4%) of the 1686 respondents included in this study were female, with a mean age of 40-45 years (x̄ = 6.76, SD = 3.11). Various psychosocial and economic factors were related to prosocial behaviour. For the full model, the beta weights show that out of the 16 explanatory variables only eight made a significant (p <. 05) contribution to explaining solidarity/prosocial behaviour, and of these, six were positively associated to solidarity and prosocial behaviour. The results demonstrate that overall, South African citizens exhibited a wide range of prosocial and solidaristic behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic, regardless of financial status, race, or gender. © 2023, University of Salento. All rights reserved.

ICU experience of the respiratory syncytial virus season after two years into the COVID-19 pandemic in a single institution

Introduction. Bronchiolitis is a viral infection affecting children. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the South African government implemented non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to prevent a rise of infections of COVID-19. These led to a decline in hospital admissions for acute exacerbations of asthma and viral infections and suppressed the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) season during 2020-2021. However, 2022 has seen an increase in the number of children with bronchiolitis including, anecdotally, more severe disease. Objectives. To investigate whether the season post the two years of the COVID-19 pandemic showed an increase in hospital admissions of children with bronchiolitis, and to investigate the severity and epidemiology of hospitalised RSV. Methods. We analysed routine data on paediatric RSV-related admissions to the pulmonology ward and ICU between February 2020 and June 2022. Results. The total number of bronchiolitis admissions increased but, of those, RSV-related admissions ranged from 53% (2020) to 64% (2021) and 43% in 2022. In 2022, compared with the years 2020 and 2021, patients were mainly female, presenting with severe disease requiring longer stays in ICU with the highest mode of ventilation. Children in 2022 were mostly <1 year. Bronchiolitis was still mainly caused by RSV. Conclusion. NPI measures prevented the spread of respiratory viruses. In 2021, the RSV season was delayed to November, possibly owing to lockdown measures. However, in 2022, there was an increase in numbers of patients hospitalised, and a greater number of admissions to ICU, with more severe disease, requiring longer stays in ICU, and higher modes of ventilation. Females seem to be more affected than males, and children <1 year to present more commonly.

Summary of childhood asthma guidelines, 2021: A consensus document

Asthma is the most common chronic illness of childhood. The prevalence is rising and the mortality and morbidity from asthma are unacceptably high in South Africa. It is important to make a correct diagnosis based, most importantly, on the clinical history and supported by investigations. The appropriate drug and device must be chosen to achieve good asthma control. Patients must be followed up regularly and their asthma control must be assessed. The treatment can then be adjusted according to the level of control. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed new challenges on the care of our asthmatics. Asthma education and adherence are important components of management of the condition.

Paraffin dangers, health and socioeconomic consequences: Urgent need for policy action.

Illuminating paraffin (kerosene) is the primary cooking fuel for approximately two million South Africans. The highly flammable and toxic fuel is burnt in poorly made stoves that are prone to malfunction and are associated with accidental fires, burns and household air pollution. However, the fuel continues to be used as it is easily decanted, widely available in neighbourhood outlets, perceived as affordable, and often the only available option for low-income urban settlements. It is anticipated that increased and enforced home congestion during COVID-19 lockdowns will exacerbate exposure of homebound families to unsafe energy, especially during the cold winter months. Based on an accumulation of evidence on the health and socioeconomic impacts of paraffin, this article advocates for its expedited phase-out and substitution with safer energy.

Paraffin dangers and health and socioeconomic consequences: Urgent need for policy action

Illuminating paraffin (kerosene) is the primary cooking fuel for approximately two million South Africans. The highly flammable and toxic fuel is burnt in poorly made stoves that are prone to malfunction and are associated with accidental fires, burns and household air pollution. However, the fuel continues to be used as it is easily decanted, widely available in neighbourhood outlets, perceived as affordable, and often the only available option for low-income urban settlements. It is anticipated that increased and enforced home congestion during COVID-19 lockdowns will exacerbate exposure of homebound families to unsafe energy, especially during the cold winter months. Based on an accumulation of evidence on the health and socioeconomic impacts of paraffin, this article advocates for its expedited phase-out and substitution with safer energy.

Protecting asthmatics from covid-19

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 virus (SARS-CoV-2). Infections were first detected in Wuhan, China in late 2019 and the infection has recently spread worldwide and been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization. The disease presents with a spectrum of respiratory manifestations that range from asymptomatic cases, to patients with mild and severe symptoms, either with or without pneumonia. Symptoms include fever, upper respiratory tract coryza, cough and acute lower respiratory tract infection. Asthmatics have, thus far, only shown slightly higher risk for hospitalisation but not for mortality. However, this may change in South Africa. Asthmatics are advised to keep their asthma under control and to continue using controller medication. It is critical for all of us, especially asthmatics, to practice ‘social distancing’, wash hands frequently and practise sneeze and cough etiquette.

The use of disinfection tunnels or disinfectant spraying of humans as a measure to reduce the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus

In endeavouring to mitigate the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a concerning practice of spraying individuals with disinfectant via so-called 'disinfection tunnels' has come to light. The Allergy Society of South Africa supports the World Health Organization in strongly condemning all human spraying, owing to lack of efficacy and potential dangers, especially to patients with coexisting allergic conditions.