Experiencias y emociones asociadas a la cuarentena en tiempos de COVID-19 en adultos mayores de la Parroquia Tarqui, 2020

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The pandemic caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus constitutes a health emergency of international impact due to its alarming level of spread and severity of the infection, it affects all population groups, and however, there is a higher prevalence in those populations identified as vulnerable. Older adults are at higher risk of getting sick and triggering serious complications, therefore, governments have imposed isolation and social distancing measures in order to prevent a super spread; those situations generate negative effects on the physical, emotional and social well-being of the population, mainly those in a state of vulnerability. OBJECTIVE: To know the experiences and emotions in older adults between 65-75 years old residing in Tarqui parish, associated with the quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODOLOGY: A phenomenological qualitative study was performed in 10 older adults from the Tarqui parish, using an ad-hoc semi-structured interview for the data collection technique. For the data analysis, the information was transcribed to the Microsoft Word program, later it was uploaded to the ATLAS.ti program for the analysis and coding of the data and with this was made an inductive report of the investigation. RESULTS: The predominant sociodemographic variables were: age 73 years, female sex, comorbidity arterial hypertension. It was evidenced that government measures had a great impact on the lives of the elderly, distorting their daily lives, causing a series of economic, social, feeding and health care difficulties; situations that caused feelings of fear and concern mainly. Different perceptions were recognized: satisfaction with the containment of the virus, medical care received by the private sector and dissatisfaction with the massive poverty triggered, with public health care, the deficient social support and the lack of psychological support. CONCLUSIONS: The SARS-CoV2 pandemic has generated innumerable negative experiences associated with confinement and social isolation, causing a great impact on the mental health of older adults, considering necessary the implementation of social and psychological support for this vulnerable group.