WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Zaw Zaw Htun*, Myitzu Tin Oung and Kyaw Ko Ko Htet

ABSTRACT

Context: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was identified in Myanmar on 23 March 2020. Stay-at-home order is a global recommended mass quarantine strategy for responding the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective: To identify the patterns, experiences, and challenges of stay-at-home among community members in Myanmar during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: It was a cross-sectional online survey using Google Forms. A total of 1,333 Facebook users responded during a five-day data collection period, 11 to 15 May 2020. Results: The study found that one-fifth of respondents did not go out of their home and another one-fifth went out once a week only. The most commonly cited reasons for going outside were to buy food (60.2%) and to go to work (41.6%). Common stay-at-home experiences among the respondents were surfing the internet (63%), using social media (62%), doing household chores (53%), and so on. Moreover, 81% of those who had COVID-19 suspected symptoms in their family members failed to inform health centers or hospitals. Buying foods (49.6%) and household goods (38.9%), and financial difficulty (40%) were the common challenges encountered during the stay-at-home period. More than two-thirds of the respondents reported psychological sufferings, such as feeling worried, stress, depressed, or lonely. Conclusion: The study indicated that although about two-fifths of the respondents followed the stay-at-home guidelines, they had some challenges. It is recommended to promote easy access to food and goods delivery, strengthen online consultation health services, and promote mass campaign activities for psychological issues.

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