Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37221506›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2023

Culture and pandemic control at cross-roads: navigating the burial guidelines for COVID-19-related deaths in a Ghanaian setting.

Dorothy Takyiakwaa, Derek Anamaale Tuoyire, Susanna Aba Abraham, Elizabeth Ama Agyare, John Oti Amoah, Akosua Agyeiwaa Owusu-Sarpong, Kizito Omona, Dorcas Obiri-Yeboah, David Teye Doku

Open access · goldAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
3.4field-weighted citation impact, top 6% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 6 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Review
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Dorothy TakyiakwaaDepartment of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. dtakyiakwaa@ucc.edu.gh.
Derek Anamaale TuoyireDepartment of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Susanna Aba AbrahamAdult Health Department, School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Elizabeth Ama AgyareClinical Microbiology/Public Health Unit, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana.
John Oti AmoahCentre for Gender Research, Advocacy and Documentation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Akosua Agyeiwaa Owusu-SarpongRegional Health Directorate, Central Region, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Kizito OmonaFaculty of Health Sciences, Uganda Martyrs University, Kampala, Uganda.
Dorcas Obiri-YeboahClinical Microbiology/Public Health Unit, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Cape Coast, Ghana.
David Teye DokuDepartment of Population and Health, College of Humanities and Legal Studies, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
University of Cape Coast · GHUganda Martyrs University · UG

Funding

Directorate of Research, Innovation and Consultancy, University of Cape Coast, Ghana RAG/GRP/CHLS/2021/102
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite the large volume of scientific evidence on the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated high morbidity and mortality, little is known about the sociocultural disruptions which ensued. The current study explored the nuanced navigation of the COVID-19-related death and burial protocols and its impact on traditional burial and funeral rites in Ghana.

methodsThis qualitative study was based on the 'focused' ethnographic design. Data were collected using key informant interviews from nineteen COVID-19-related bereaved family members and public health officials involved in enforcing adherence to COVID-19-related death and burial protocols in the Cape Coast Metropolis of Central region of Ghana. Recursive analysis was conducted to generate the themes and sub-themes from the data.

resultsThe overarching theme was "Uncultural" connotations ascribed to the COVID-19-related death and burial protocols. The COVID-19-related death and burial protocols were ubiquitously deemed by participants to be 'uncultural' as they inhibited deep-rooted indigenous and eschatological rites of separation between the living and the dead. This was fueled by limited awareness and knowledge about the COVID-19 burial protocols, resulting in fierce resistance by bereaved family members who demanded that public health officials release the bodies of their deceased relatives. Such resistance in the midst of resource limitation led to negotiated compromises of the COVID-19-related death and burial protocols between family members and public health officials.

conclusionsInsensitivity to socio-cultural practices compromised the implementation of the COVID-19 pandemic control interventions, particularly, the COVID-19-related death and burial protocols. Some compromises that were not sanctioned by the protocols were reached to allow health officials and families respectfully bury their dead. These findings call for the need to prioritize the incorporation of sociocultural practices in future pandemic prevention and management strategies.

Indexed as

COVID-19Anthropology, CulturalBurialGhanaHumansPandemicsCOVID-19 burial ritesCulture and pandemic controlGhanaQualitative study

Identifiers

PMID37221506
PMCPMC10204008
OpenAlexW4377820890

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.