Psychosocial Experiences of COVID-19 Survivors in Urban and Rural Population of Tamil Nadu – A Qualitative Study
Bakyalakshmi Kolanji, S. G. Rameshkumar, A. Leena Selvamary, Sujatha AnandanAbstract
Background:
The pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 exerted a profound ill effect on the physical and mental well-being of people around the world. Further, the increased mortality and long-term ill effects affected the population in numerous ways. The present study aimed to explore the lived psychosocial experiences of COVID-19 survivors.
Materials and Methods:
The present qualitative research was conducted using a semi-structured interview with COVID-19 survivors selected through maximum variation purposive sampling. The data were collected through in-depth telephonic interviews. Transcripts were made by listening to the audio clips of the interview and taking notes from it. The data were analyzed by Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis using the seven steps.
Results:
The psychosocial experiences of COVID-19 survivors could be summarized into three themes and nine subthemes. The themes related to the participant’s psychological aspects are the realization of the value of health, the importance of family members, and the negative influence of social media. Social themes encompassed loneliness, insomnia, and emotional turmoil, while under the economic viewpoint, getting loans for health care, reduced working hours due to slow recovery, and reduced spending capacity were the subthemes.
Conclusion:
Although participants had some positive experiences, they also endured misfortune in both physical and psychosocial aspects. To help COVID-19 survivors and their families in such grim circumstances, the existing psychosocial health services should be deliberately integrated and improved within the medical care system.