COVID-19 in South India: 3 of 4 Rural Households Test Positive

In South India, COVID-19 cases are the highest than in North India. About three out of every four rural households are tested positive in south India. These are the findings of the Gaon Connection's rapid survey on the 'COVID-19 Vaccine and Rural India' was to find out different issues related to testing and treatment of COVID-19 in rural India and the knowledge, attitude and practice related to this new disease.

On being asked if any member of their household had been tested for COVID-19, around one-fourth of the respondent households reported that samples from at least one member of their households were taken for testing of COVID-19. This testing was more in high COVID prevalence states (34.6%) than medium prevalence states (28.4%) and low prevalence states (17%).

Zone wise analysis reflects highest proportion (42.6%) of respondents in the East-Northeast zone reported that samples from at least one member of their households were taken for the testing of COVID-19 whereas it was the lowest in the north zone (10.9%).

Of the 25.9 percent respondent households who reported any one of their family members samples were tested, more than half, that is 59 percent, reported at least one person in their household had tested positive for COVID-19. Overall, 15 percent (high prevalence zone: 27%, medium: 14% and low: 6%) of the total covered samples reported that at least one person among their household tested positive for COVID-19.

Among the people who were tested, it was found that in the south zone three out of every four households tested positive for COVID-19, the highest in the country. In contrast, it was the lowest in the north zone where only 12 percent tested positive.

On the recovery front, on being asked if the COVID-19 positive family member had recovered from the disease, the survey found that nearly three-fourth of them had recovered fully. Eight percent were all COVID positive and 3.5 percent of the positive cases/persons had passed away/died.

Advertisement

The Gaon Connection rapid survey also tried to find out about quarantine facilities in rural India and how many COVID-19 patients made use of them. On being asked if the COVID-19 positive household member was taken to a facility or was isolated at home, the respondents said that 73 percent were brought to quarantine centers and 27 percent were isolated at home.

Further, it was asked if the COVID-19 positive household member was treated at a government hospital or private hospital, it was found that two-third of them got treatment in a government hospital and 11 percent went to private hospital. Around one-tenth of them got self-treatment and remaining went to rural medical practitioners (RMP) doctor/ quack and Ayurveda doctor. It was also found that a larger proportion of COVID-19 cases in high prevalence states (73%) got treatment in government hospitals than other categories of states.

Advertisement

Source-IANS