| المؤلفون: |
Duffhues WAC; Willeke A. C. Duffhues, MD, was a Medical Student, at VieCuri Medical Center, Venlo, the Netherlands., Barten DG; Dennis G. Barten, MD, is an Emergency Physician and Residency Director, Department of Emergency Medicine, at VieCuri Medical Center, Venlo, the Netherlands., Cauwer H; Harald De Cauwer, MD, is a Neurologist, Department of Neurology, Dimpna Regional Hospital, Geel, Belgium; and PhD Candidate, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium., Mortelmans L; Luc Mortelmans, MD, is an Emergency Physician, Center for Research and Education in Emergency Care, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium; REGEDIM, Free University Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; and Department of Emergency Medicine, ZNA Camp Stuivenberg, Antwerp, Belgium.in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA., van Osch F; Frits van Osch, PhD, is a Clinical Epidemiologist, Department of Clinical Epidemiology, at VieCuri Medical Center, Venlo, the Netherlands., Tin D; Derrick Tin, MD, PhD, is an Emergency Physician and Core Faculty, in the Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA., Koopmans MPG; Marion P. G. Koopmans, PhD, is a Professor of Virology and Head, Department of Viroscience, Erasmus Medical Centre and the Pandemic and Disaster Preparedness Center, Rotterdam/Delft, the Netherlands., Ciottone G |
| مستخلص: |
During the COVID-19 pandemic, violence targeting healthcare reportedly increased. Attacks against healthcare can severely hamper the public health response during a pandemic. Descriptive data analysis of these attacks may be helpful to develop prevention and mitigation strategies. This study aimed to investigate trends regarding COVID-19-related attacks against healthcare from January 2020 until January 2023. COVID-19-related incidents occurring between January 2020 and January 2023 were extracted from the Safeguarding Health in Conflict Coalition database and screened for eligibility. Included incidents were linked to COVID-19 health measures or were attacks directly interfering with COVID-19 healthcare, including conflict-related attacks. Data collected per incident included temporal factors; country; setting; attack and weapon type; perpetrator; motive; number of healthcare workers (HCWs) killed, injured, or kidnapped; and health facility damage. The study identified 255 COVID-19-related attacks against healthcare, with 18 HCWs killed, 147 HCWs injured, and 86 facilities damaged. The highest attack frequency was reported during the beginning of the pandemic and predominantly concerned stigma-related attacks against healthcare. Reported incidents in 2021 included attacks targeting vaccination campaigns, as well as conflict-related attacks interfering with COVID-19 healthcare. COVID-19-related attacks against healthcare occurred in heterogeneous contexts throughout the pandemic. Due to underreporting, the data presented are a minimum estimate of the actual magnitude of violence. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of public education campaigns, improved coordination between healthcare organizations and law enforcement, and the possible need to bolster the security of medical facilities and health workers. |
