Exploring the perceptions and lived experiences of family members living with people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa: a descriptive phenomenological study

Celenkosini Thembelenkosini Nxumalo; Lwandile Tokwe; Silingene Joyce Ngcobo; Nkululeko Phalson Gam; Gugu Gladness Mchunu; Lufuno Makhado

doi:10.1080/17482631.2023.2247622

Exploring the perceptions and lived experiences of family members living with people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa: a descriptive phenomenological study

Int J Qual Stud Health Well-being. 2023 Dec;18(1):2247622. doi: 10.1080/17482631.2023.2247622.

Authors

Celenkosini Thembelenkosini Nxumalo^{1

2}, Lwandile Tokwe³, Silingene Joyce Ngcobo², Nkululeko Phalson Gam⁴, Gugu Gladness Mchunu⁵, Lufuno Makhado⁶

Affiliations

¹ Academic Development Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Ritson Campus, Durban, South Africa.
² Department of Nursing, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
³ School of Nursing, Faculty of Community and Health Sciences, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.
⁴ Centre for quality Promotion and Assurance, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa.
⁵ Executive Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences, Durban University of Technology, Ritson Campus, Durban, South Africa.
⁶ Executive Dean, School of Public Health, University of Venda, Thohoyandou, South Africa.

Abstract

Background: The incidence and prevalence of COVID-19 continues to escalate globally, with the consequence to quality of life, the economies of nations and various sectors of society. While there is substantial research on the impact and experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic, little remains known about the perceptions and lived experiences of families living with people diagnosed with COVID-19, particularly within the South African context.

Purpose: To explore the perceptions and lived experiences of family members living with people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa.

Methods: A descriptive phenomenological design was used. Data were collected from 15 participants who were family members of people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa. Purposive snowball sampling was used to identify and recruit participants, and data were collected at community level in KwaZulu-Natal, Western Cape and Gauteng, South Africa. Individual in-depth interviews were used to collect the data, and an audio tape was used to record all interviews. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a phenomenological data analysis processes. Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from the University of KwaZulu-Natal Research Ethics Committee-reference number: BREC00003228/2021.

Results: Four super-ordinate themes emerged in relation to the perceptions and lived experiences of family members living with people diagnosed with COVID-19 in South Africa. The superordinate themes were: (1) sources of information about COVID-19, (2) pandemic perceptions and experiences, (3) impact of diagnosis and related burden and (4) aftermath of living with a family member diagnosed with COVID-19.

Discussion and conclusion: Family members' perceptions and lived experiences of COVID-19 are largely influenced by media, moreover, the impact of diagnosis has consequences for the physical, mental and emotional well-being of family members. Diagnosis disrupts family dynamics by depleting financial resources due to the caregiver burden experienced. The findings thus imply that provision of psychosocial support is imperative for families living with persons diagnosed with COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; experiences; families; people living with COVID-19; perceptions.

MeSH terms

COVID-19*
Family
Humans
Pandemics
Quality of Life
South Africa

Grants and funding

Research reported in this publication was supported by the South African Medical Research Council under a Self-Initiated Research Grant. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of the SA MRC.