COVID-19, Chronic Conditions and Structural Poverty: A Social Psychological Assessment of the Needs of a Marginalized Community in Accra, Ghana

Authors

  • Ama de-Graft Aikins
    Institute of Advanced Studies, University College London, London, United Kingdom
  • Olutobi Sanuade
    Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
  • Leonard Baatiema
    Department of Health Planning Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Paapa Yaw Asante
    Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Francis Agyei
    Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Vida Asah-Ayeh
    Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Jemima A. O. Okai
    School of Public Service and Governance, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra, Ghana
  • Annabella Osei-Tutu
    Department of Psychology, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
  • Kwadwo Koram
    Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana

Abstract

In the African region COVID-19 infection and death rates are increasing (writing in May 2020), most deaths have occurred among individuals with chronic conditions, and poor communities face higher risks of infection and socio-economic insecurities. We assessed the psychosocial needs of a chronic illness support group in Accra, Ghana, within the context of their broader community. The community lives in structural poverty and has a complex burden of infectious and chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Between March and May 2020, we conducted interviews, group discussions, and surveys, with members of the support group and their caregivers, frontline healthcare workers, and religious and community leaders. Data was analysed through the social psychology of participation framework. Community members understood COVID-19 as a new public health threat and drew on eclectic sources of information to make sense of this. Members of the support group had psychosocial and material needs: they were anxious about infection risk as well as money, food and access to NCD treatment. Some community members received government food packages during the lockdown period. This support ended after lockdown in April and while anti-poverty COVID policies have been unveiled they have yet to be implemented. We discuss the impact of these representational, relational and power dynamics on the community’s access to COVID-19 and NCD support. We argue that strategies to address immediate and post-COVID needs of vulnerable communities have to focus on the politics and practicalities of implementing existing rights-based policies that intersect health, poverty reduction and social protection.