Foreigners, minorities, doctors targeted for Covid spread in India: Study


Sydney, May 13 (IANS): Indians blamed foreigners, minority groups and doctors for the rapid spread of Covid-19 across the country during the first wave due to misinformation, rumour and long-held discriminatory beliefs, a study claimed on Thursday.

Researchers from the Monash University, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, and the University of Southampton surveyed 2,138 people across 40 localities in Uttar Pradesh on their views about the spread of Covid-19.

Ninety-three per cent of the respondents blamed foreigners for the spread of Covid-19, while 66 per cent also blamed the Muslim population. Surprisingly, 34 per cent and 29 per cent of people blamed the healthcare workers and the police, respectively, for failing to contain the virus spread.

The social and physical consequences of stigmatisation were found to be severe, as those with symptoms refused to step forward and get tested for fear of public humiliation, the researchers said.

Other examples included the refusal of non-Hindu doctors and patients to have a dignified burial; attacks on Muslims during and after religious events; healthcare workers being assaulted and asked to vacate their residences due to fear of virus spread; and incidents of Covid-19 patients leaving self-isolation early.

The findings were published in the journal Social Science & Medicine.

As India comes to grips with a devastating second wave, with an average of 350,000 new cases and 4,000 deaths daily, researchers say these incidents during the first wave are happening again.

"We believe the results are as relevant today, as widespread stigmatisation is visible even during this wave," said Asad Islam, Director of the Centre for Development Economics and Sustainability at the Monash Business School.

"Cases of stigmatisation during the second wave have resulted in doctors being verbally abused and prevented from taking a lift in their own residential building, old parents being abandoned, several patients fleeing medical facilities across the country, and dead bodies being dumped in rivers.

"Most importantly, we found that stigmatisation of Covid-19 can have negative public health implications as it may lead people to avoid getting tested and respecting prevention measures. This is essential if India is to get on top of this second wave," he added.

However, when presented with accurate and reliable information about the virus spread, the Indian people back-pedalled on those negative sentiments and were more likely to get tested and seek medical help, highlighting the importance of health advice from credible sources, the researchers said.

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • Mangalurian, Mangaluru

    Fri, May 14 2021

    Some people who have commented here appear to be confused about the term 'Foreigners'. It most likely refers to the foreigners who attended the Tablighi Jamaat in the early days of the first wave. The Indonesians for example were put behind bars. The media went all out to blame them. It is only the courts-initiated investigations found that there was no truth in any of the allegations were the foreigners freed. Media of course did not talk about the 125,000 gathered at the Motera stadium inauguration with Trump FOUR WEEKS after the WHO declared Covid-19 to be an International calamity. All of these happened in the first-half of 2020, but people seem to have forgotten them.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joel, Mangalore

    Fri, May 14 2021

    Vicky we would like to inow your opinion here. Please comment

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Moshu, Mangalore

    Thu, May 13 2021

    As simple as that to understand that the God has turned the table over in the second wave to teach the lesson to those who blamed minorities and rest in the first wave..

    DisAgree [5] Agree [43] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joe, Mangalore

    Thu, May 13 2021

    They forgot elections and kubm mela to add in their report, the EC and government were even reprimanded by the courts, because it did not suit their propaganda.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [38] Reply Report Abuse

  • Daniel, Mangalore

    Thu, May 13 2021

    This research was regarding first wave not second...

    DisAgree [12] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Manohar, Udupi

    Thu, May 13 2021

    Baba Ramdev is a minority in his category.............statements like gobar bath, cow urine, etc, etc, belong to foreigners category.......whatelse can you expect when the prestigious institutions are replaced by gobar minded.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [27] Reply Report Abuse

  • Veer, Nagpur

    Thu, May 13 2021

    ‘Foreigners’?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!.........Has the govt been issuing visas to foreigners to visit India????????........Did Muslim s visit Kumbha Mela??????......Did health care workers participate in election rallies??????????..............This study report is prepared and published from Nagpur head quarters. 100% because it lacks logic and relevance. Of all the people blaming health workers is lowest BJP govt can stoop. If health care workers are spreading then how people are treated in hospital????????. Govt’s arrogance and stubbornness is cause of second wave.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [39] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dylan, Mangalore

    Thu, May 13 2021

    No chance not the above groups responsible for the spread of the noel virus. Last year some Indians who where abroad imported the virus. The first case detected in India was in Kerala, a student who had come from China. The first death was in Karnataka the person returned from Saudi. The second wave was mismanagement by the Central Government and some state Governments.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [38] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Thu, May 13 2021

    Right... first came imported cases from china, saudi Arabia and Tabliqis and then they created clusters. Even now enough opportunities to control pandemic. Once lockdown is over, nobody should be allowed to enter without negative reports and impose quarantine as well. Those process should be followed for atleast 2 years.

    DisAgree [35] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Charles D'Mello, Pangala

    Thu, May 13 2021

    If Australia is thinking that UP is is India, then they must have concluded much more than this.....!!!!?????

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rahul, Mangalore

    Thu, May 13 2021

    Hieght of hypocrisy.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse


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