Assessing the health and wider societal impact of COVID-19 and related control measures in Yemen

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Albrecht Jahn
• Subject Area: Public Health, Healthcare Research, Social and Occupational Medicine ; Empirical Social Research ; Epidemiology and Medical Biometry/Statistics ; Clinical Infectiology and Tropical Medicine
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 458597267

This multidisciplinary research proposal addresses the complex health situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic in Yemen, which stands as an example for a range of poor, fragile and conflict-prone countries in the wider region, and was affected by epidemics previously, including the largest cholera outbreak in recent history. Given the current lack of effective therapeutics and vaccines, preventive public health measures are key to prevent the further transmission of the disease. In Yemen, COVID-19 could be a greater scourge than anything Yemeni civilians have experienced. In response to the DFG call and its stated aim to address “the challenges and effects of an epidemic or pandemic and of measures taken for healthcare systems achieve a comprehensive analysis”, the study brings together a multidisciplinary team from Heidelberg University, Germany and Aden University, Yemen comprising public health, epidemiology, clinical medicine, and anthropology and will assess the epidemiological situation, the direct and indirect COVID-19 effects on mortality, the health service response, the community response and improvements in the clinical diagnosis, with aim to improve the health service and public health response, also wel as fostering protective practices at community level. The project is organized along the following four research objectives:1. To assess the scope and magnitude of the health and health service challenges linked to COVID-19 in Yemen 2. To analyze the mortality pattern, including causes of death, coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic 3. To describe the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of the community regarding the prevention and management of COVID-19 4. To assess the validity of the clinical WHO COVID-19 case definition The study will be conducted in Aden governorate, Yemen, which was worst affected and declared a disaster zone because of COVID 19 and experienced a dramatic increase in overall mortality. The study will use a mixed-method approach, including a household survey, a health service survey, a retrospective analysis of causes of deaths using verbal autopsy and a validation study to assess currently used clinical case definitions. Multi-sectorial actions taken to mitigate the COVID-19 epidemic in Yemen at different levels - state level (Ministry of Public Health), health facilities level and community level will be documented and assessed, direct and indirect COVID-related mortality determined, and knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding COVID-19 disease and prevention identified. Based on a synopsis of our findings with regards to the epidemiology, the health service performance, and the community perspective, we will contribute to an evidence –based strategy for the control of the COVID-19 pandemic in Yemen and a better outbreak preparedness in fragile settings in general.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Yemen
• Cooperation Partners: Professor Dr. Khaled Abdulla Zain Al-Sakkaf; Professorin Dr. Huda BaSaleem, Ph.D.