COVID-19 Social Science and Public Engagement Action Research in Vietnam, Indonesia and Nepal (SPEAR): Protocol for a mixed methods study exploring the experiences and impacts of COVID-19 for healthcare workers and vulnerable communities

• DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17314.1
• Publication Date: 2021-12-20T10:15:07Z
• Authors: Jennifer Ilo Van ...; Dewi Friska; Aria Kekalih; Anup Raj Bhandari; Claus Bogh; Hannah Brindle; Thi Hong Ngoc Bui; Dinesh Deokota; Soraya Weldina Ra...; Phuong Nhung Doan; Jaom Fisher; Amit Gautum; Livia Nathania Ku...; Ralalicia Limato; Hoang Yen Nguyen; Thanh Ha Nguyen; Thanh Phong Nguyen; Thanh Truong Nguyen; Thi Hong Yen Nguyen; Thi Kim Ngoc Nguyen; Thi Kim Tuyen Nguyen; Thao My Nguyen Le; Aakriti Pandey; Samita Rijal; Chrissy Roberts; Rabi Shakya; Summita Udas Shakya; Pawan Sharma; Ida Aya Sutrisni; Pratibha Thapa; Diana Timoria; Minh Hien Tran; Phuong Thao Tran; Thi Hang Tran; Bao Hung Vu; Tien Viet Dung Vu; ; Abhilasha Karkey; Raph L Hamers; Mary Chambers; Sonia Lewycka
• Keywords: Economics and Econometrics; Public relations; FOS: Political science; Social Sciences; Nursing; Infectious disease (medical specialty); FOS: Health sciences; Focus group; Public engagement; Livelihood; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Impacts of COVID-19 on Global Economy and Markets; Sociology; Qualitative research; Pathology; Psychology; Disease; Political science; Public health; Pandemic; Geography; Agriculture; Social science; FOS: Sociology; FOS: Psychology; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Clinical Psychology; Economics, Econometrics and Finance; Environmental health; Social Isolation; Archaeology; Health; Anthropology; Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health; Psychotherapist; Factors Affecting Vaccine Hesitancy and Acceptance; Medicine; Mental health

Background: When the novel coronavirus – SARS-CoV-2 – started to spread globally, there was a call for social and behavioral scientists to conduct research to explore the wider socio-cultural contexts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to understand vulnerabilities, as well as to increase engagement within communities to facilitate adoption of public health measures. In this manuscript, we describe the protocol for a study conducted in Indonesia, Nepal, and Vietnam. In the study, we explore how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting individuals and their communities. We focus on the wider health and economic impacts of COVID-19, in particular emerging and increased burden on mental health, as well as new or deepened vulnerabilities in the communities. The introduction of vaccines has added another layer of complexity and highlights differences in acceptance and inequalities around access. Methods: We use mixed methods, combining survey methods and social media surveillance to gain a picture of the general situation within each country, with in-depth qualitative methods to gain a deeper understanding of issues, coupled with a synergistic engagement component. We also include an exploration of the role of social media in revealing or driving perceptions of the pandemic more broadly. Participants include health workers and members of communities from 13 sites across the three countries. Data collection is spread across two phases. Phase 1 is concerned with exploring lived experiences, impacts on working lives and livelihoods, mental health and coping strategies. Phase 2 is concerned with acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines, factors that increase and reduce acceptance, and factors that influence access. Conclusions: We will disseminate findings in multiple ways including short reports and policy briefs, articles in peer-reviewed journals, and digital diaries will be edited into short films and uploaded onto social media sites.