A qualitative study to explore primary health care practitioners’ perceptions and understanding regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a novel virus that has rapidly spread across countries globally, and has been declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization(WHO). In South Africa, more that 1 million cases have been confirmed since case zero wasdetected in March 2020. South Africa is currently leading in the sub-Saharan African region interms of COVID-19-related mortality and morbidity rates.Aim: The aim of this study was to explore primary health care practitioners’ perceptions andunderstanding regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Setting: The study was conducted at two selected primary health care facilities (a communityhealth centre and satellite clinic) within a low-income rural context in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Methods: A qualitative study was conducted to explore and describe perceptions andunderstanding of primary health care practitioners regarding the COVID-19 pandemic inKwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Data were collected from a purposive sample of15 participants at two different clinics situated in rural KZN, South Africa. Participants comprisedof nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, community care givers, social workers and clinicalassociates. The participants were both men and women who were all above the age of 20. Datawere collected through individual, in-depth face-to-face interviews using a semi-structuredinterview guide. An audiotape was used to collect data, which were transcribed verbatim. Datawere analysed manually by thematic analysis following Tech’s steps of data analysis.Results: Participants reported pre-pandemic and pandemic perceptions of fear, denial,expectancy and a perceived poor preparation for the COVID-19 outbreak. The findings alsorevealed participants’ misperceptions regarding the nature of the COVID-19 pandemic andunrealistic expectations of occupational compensations for working during the outbreak.Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that primary health care practitioners generallyhave negative perceptions and understanding regarding the pandemic because ofmisinformation obtained from social media. Interventions to support health care practitionersare necessary to mitigate the potentially negative implications of health practitioners’misconceptions on service delivery and their mental health