tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Glob Health
. 2025 Feb 14:15:04091.
doi: 10.7189/jogh.15.04091. Individuals' positive gains from the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study across 30 countries
Jiaying Li[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Patricia M Davidson[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 3 [/SUP], Daniel Yee Tak Fong[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yaqin Li[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Kris Yuet Wan Lok[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Janet Yuen Ha Wong[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Mandy Man Ho[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Edmond Pui Hang Choi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Vinciya Pandian[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Wenjie Duan[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Marie Tarrant[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Jung Jae Lee[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chia-Chin Lin[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Oluwadamilare Akingbade[SUP] 8 9 [/SUP], Khalid M Alabdulwahhab[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Mohammad Shakil Ahmad[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Mohamed Alboraie[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Meshari A Alzahrani[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Anil S Bilimale[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Sawitree Boonpatcharanon[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Samuel Byiringiro[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Muhammad Kamil Che Hasan[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Luisa Clausi Schettini[SUP] 17 [/SUP], Walter Corzo[SUP] 18 [/SUP], Josephine M De Leon[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Anjanette S De Leon[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Hiba Deek[SUP] 20 [/SUP], Fabio Efficace[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Mayssah A El Nayal[SUP] 22 [/SUP], Fathiya El-Raey[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Eduardo Ensaldo-Carrasco[SUP] 24 [/SUP], Pilar Escotorin[SUP] 25 [/SUP], Oluwadamilola Agnes Fadodun[SUP] 26 [/SUP], Israel Opeyemi Fawole[SUP] 27 [/SUP], Yong-Shian Shawn Goh[SUP] 28 [/SUP], Devi Irawan[SUP] 29 [/SUP], Naimah Ebrahim Khan[SUP] 30 [/SUP], Binu Koirala[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ashish Krishna[SUP] 31 [/SUP], Cannas Kwok[SUP] 32 [/SUP], Tung Thanh Le[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Daniela Giambruno Leal[SUP] 34 [/SUP], Miguel Ángel Lezana-Fernández[SUP] 35 [/SUP], Emery Manirambona[SUP] 36 [/SUP], Leandro Cruz Mantoani[SUP] 37 [/SUP], Fernando Meneses-González[SUP] 35 [/SUP], Iman Elmahdi Mohamed[SUP] 38 [/SUP], Madeleine Mukeshimana[SUP] 39 [/SUP], Chinh Thi Minh Nguyen[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Huong Thi Thanh Nguyen[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Khanh Thi Nguyen[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Son Truong Nguyen[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Mohd Said Nurumal[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Aimable Nzabonimana[SUP] 40 [/SUP], Nagla Abdelrahim Mohamed Ahmed Omer[SUP] 41 [/SUP], Oluwabunmi Ogungbe[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Angela Chiu Yin Poon[SUP] 42 [/SUP], Areli Reséndiz-Rodriguez[SUP] 43 [/SUP], Busayasachee Puang-Ngern[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Ceryl G Sagun[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Riyaz Ahmed Shaik[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Nikhil Gauri Shankar[SUP] 44 [/SUP], Kathrin Sommer[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Edgardo Toro[SUP] 34 [/SUP], Hanh Thi Hong Tran[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Elvira L Urgel[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Emmanuel Uwiringiyimana[SUP] 36 [/SUP], Tita Vanichbuncha[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Naglaa Youssef[SUP] 45 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Given the limited understanding of individuals' positive gains, this study aimed to identify these gains that could be leveraged by policymakers to enhance future health and societal resilience.
Methods: We used a global qualitative approach to survey adults over 18 from 30 countries across six World Health Organization (WHO) regions, who detailed up to three personal positive gains from COVID-19 pandemic via an open-ended question. Inductive thematic analysis was employed to identify main themes, and quantitative methods were used for demographic and regional comparisons based on the percentage of responses for each theme.
Results: From 35 911 valid responses provided by 13 853 participants, six main themes (one negative theme), 39 subthemes, and 673 codes were identified. Five positive gain themes emerged, ordered by response frequency: 1) improved health awareness and practices; 2) strengthened social bonds and trust; 3) multi-dimensional personal growth; 4) resilience and preparedness building; 5) accelerated digital transformation. The percentage of responses under these themes consistently appeared in the same order across various demographic groups and economic development levels. However, there were variations in the predominant theme across WHO regions and countries, with either Theme 1, Theme 2, or Theme 3 having the highest percentage of responses. Although our study primarily focused on positive gains, unexpectedly, 12% of responses (4304) revealed 'negative gains', leading to an unforeseen theme: 'Distrust and emerging vulnerabilities.' While this deviates from our main topic, we retained it as it provides valuable insights. Notably, these 'negative gains' had a higher percentage of responses in areas like Burundi (94.1%), Rwanda (31.8%), Canada (26.9%), and in the African Region (37.7%) and low-income (43.9%) countries, as well as among non-binary individuals, those with lower education, and those facing employment challenges.
Conclusions: Globally, the identified diverse positive gains guide the domains in which health policies and practices can transform these transient benefits into enduring improvements for a healthier, more resilient society. However, variations in thematic responses across demographics, countries, and regions highlights need for tailored health strategies.
. 2025 Feb 14:15:04091.
doi: 10.7189/jogh.15.04091. Individuals' positive gains from the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study across 30 countries
Jiaying Li[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Patricia M Davidson[SUP] #[/SUP][SUP] 3 [/SUP], Daniel Yee Tak Fong[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Yaqin Li[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Kris Yuet Wan Lok[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Janet Yuen Ha Wong[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Mandy Man Ho[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Edmond Pui Hang Choi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Vinciya Pandian[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Wenjie Duan[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Marie Tarrant[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Jung Jae Lee[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Chia-Chin Lin[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Oluwadamilare Akingbade[SUP] 8 9 [/SUP], Khalid M Alabdulwahhab[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Mohammad Shakil Ahmad[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Mohamed Alboraie[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Meshari A Alzahrani[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Anil S Bilimale[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Sawitree Boonpatcharanon[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Samuel Byiringiro[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Muhammad Kamil Che Hasan[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Luisa Clausi Schettini[SUP] 17 [/SUP], Walter Corzo[SUP] 18 [/SUP], Josephine M De Leon[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Anjanette S De Leon[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Hiba Deek[SUP] 20 [/SUP], Fabio Efficace[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Mayssah A El Nayal[SUP] 22 [/SUP], Fathiya El-Raey[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Eduardo Ensaldo-Carrasco[SUP] 24 [/SUP], Pilar Escotorin[SUP] 25 [/SUP], Oluwadamilola Agnes Fadodun[SUP] 26 [/SUP], Israel Opeyemi Fawole[SUP] 27 [/SUP], Yong-Shian Shawn Goh[SUP] 28 [/SUP], Devi Irawan[SUP] 29 [/SUP], Naimah Ebrahim Khan[SUP] 30 [/SUP], Binu Koirala[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Ashish Krishna[SUP] 31 [/SUP], Cannas Kwok[SUP] 32 [/SUP], Tung Thanh Le[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Daniela Giambruno Leal[SUP] 34 [/SUP], Miguel Ángel Lezana-Fernández[SUP] 35 [/SUP], Emery Manirambona[SUP] 36 [/SUP], Leandro Cruz Mantoani[SUP] 37 [/SUP], Fernando Meneses-González[SUP] 35 [/SUP], Iman Elmahdi Mohamed[SUP] 38 [/SUP], Madeleine Mukeshimana[SUP] 39 [/SUP], Chinh Thi Minh Nguyen[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Huong Thi Thanh Nguyen[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Khanh Thi Nguyen[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Son Truong Nguyen[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Mohd Said Nurumal[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Aimable Nzabonimana[SUP] 40 [/SUP], Nagla Abdelrahim Mohamed Ahmed Omer[SUP] 41 [/SUP], Oluwabunmi Ogungbe[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Angela Chiu Yin Poon[SUP] 42 [/SUP], Areli Reséndiz-Rodriguez[SUP] 43 [/SUP], Busayasachee Puang-Ngern[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Ceryl G Sagun[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Riyaz Ahmed Shaik[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Nikhil Gauri Shankar[SUP] 44 [/SUP], Kathrin Sommer[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Edgardo Toro[SUP] 34 [/SUP], Hanh Thi Hong Tran[SUP] 33 [/SUP], Elvira L Urgel[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Emmanuel Uwiringiyimana[SUP] 36 [/SUP], Tita Vanichbuncha[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Naglaa Youssef[SUP] 45 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 39950570
- PMCID: PMC11827041
- DOI: 10.7189/jogh.15.04091
Background: Given the limited understanding of individuals' positive gains, this study aimed to identify these gains that could be leveraged by policymakers to enhance future health and societal resilience.
Methods: We used a global qualitative approach to survey adults over 18 from 30 countries across six World Health Organization (WHO) regions, who detailed up to three personal positive gains from COVID-19 pandemic via an open-ended question. Inductive thematic analysis was employed to identify main themes, and quantitative methods were used for demographic and regional comparisons based on the percentage of responses for each theme.
Results: From 35 911 valid responses provided by 13 853 participants, six main themes (one negative theme), 39 subthemes, and 673 codes were identified. Five positive gain themes emerged, ordered by response frequency: 1) improved health awareness and practices; 2) strengthened social bonds and trust; 3) multi-dimensional personal growth; 4) resilience and preparedness building; 5) accelerated digital transformation. The percentage of responses under these themes consistently appeared in the same order across various demographic groups and economic development levels. However, there were variations in the predominant theme across WHO regions and countries, with either Theme 1, Theme 2, or Theme 3 having the highest percentage of responses. Although our study primarily focused on positive gains, unexpectedly, 12% of responses (4304) revealed 'negative gains', leading to an unforeseen theme: 'Distrust and emerging vulnerabilities.' While this deviates from our main topic, we retained it as it provides valuable insights. Notably, these 'negative gains' had a higher percentage of responses in areas like Burundi (94.1%), Rwanda (31.8%), Canada (26.9%), and in the African Region (37.7%) and low-income (43.9%) countries, as well as among non-binary individuals, those with lower education, and those facing employment challenges.
Conclusions: Globally, the identified diverse positive gains guide the domains in which health policies and practices can transform these transient benefits into enduring improvements for a healthier, more resilient society. However, variations in thematic responses across demographics, countries, and regions highlights need for tailored health strategies.