I WILL SURVIVE: LIVED EXPERIENCES OF COVID-19 SURVIVORS

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A thesis presented to
The Faculty of Senior High School Department
Tarlac National High School- Annex
Tarlac City

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In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement

of the Applied Subject
Practical Research I

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BAUN, JOHN JOSHUA P.

GUTIERREZ, LYOD ANTHONY G.
MANORIÑA, CYRAH L.

June 2021
 Chapter 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS BACKGROUND

Introduction

COVID-19 is regarded as a vital and stressful period in the lives of COVID-19

survivors. Coronavirus disease also known as (COVID-19) is an infectious disease

caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. One of the most pressing concerns with

COVID-19 is its rapid spread; millions of individuals have been infected around the

world, with hundreds of thousands of deaths had been recorded. the most common

symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness and dry cough. (WHO, 2020).

(Zhou et al., 2020) explained that Coronavirus disease 2019 is highly infectious

and pathogenic and has spread rapidly in just 9 months, resulting in a global pandemic.

Few patients experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat

or diarrhea. Patients usually have mild symptoms that start gradually. Most patients

recover without needing any special treatment. Only around 1 of 6 patients manifest with

difficulty breathing and become seriously ill. Some people become infected but don’t

develop any symptoms and don’t feel unwell. (WHO,2020).

According to (Jin et al., 2020) Patients with a suspected infection are

recommended to be isolated, monitored, and diagnosed in Hospital as soon as possible.

Patients with mild symptoms are isolated at home.

Due to the largest-scale lockdown in human history, everyone's health has been

affected to some extent. The health impacts of COVID-19 on different social groups,

including the public, healthcare professionals, people with underlying chronic diseases
and people with suspected COVID-19 symptoms have been investigated. (Zhang et al,

2020).

According to global statistics released by the WHO, the COVID-19 mortality rate

is 7%. So far, more than 38 million cases have been confirmed and more than a million

deaths have occurred. On 11 March 2020, they officially declared that the prevalence of

COVID-19 has reached a global pandemic level.

Research has furthermore suggested that patients might be vulnerable to the

emotional impact of coronavirus (Lima et al., 2020) and others have suggested that

psychological and humanistic care should be performed for patients’ with COVID-19 (Jin

et al., 2020).

Traumatic experiences primarily emerged in the period of COVID-19 suspicion

and during quarantine before treatment. Loneliness as a result of separation from loved

ones, fear of death, worries about the physical health of their families, as well as

uncertainty about the future life, generated or exacerbated anxiety and depression during

pre-treatment quarantine (Xiang et al., 2020).

(Zuercher et al., 2020) stated the potential links between COVID- 19 and anxiety,

Post-Traumatic, Stress Disorder, depression and sleep disorders. Early, continuous, and

professional psychological interventions can prevent physical and mental harm. Patients

endure stress during an epidemic and may experience physical and mental reactions

(Matua et al., 2015). Quarantine also led to loneliness, anxiety, helplessness, and

depression, consistent with previous reports of other epidemic diseases (James et al.,

2020).
 Researchers at John Hopkins University (2021) found that globally, there have

been more than 174.1 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3.7 million associated

deaths. COVID survivors had a 59% increases risk of dying within six months after

contracting the SARS-CoV-2 virus, researchers reported in nature. That works out to

about eight extra deaths per 1,000 patients, worsening the pandemic’s hidden toll as

many patients require readmission- and some die- weeks after the viral infection abates.

In a Photo essay by Aildrene Tan of Heinrich Böll Stiftung Southeast Asia on 12

may 2021, he found that the Philippines is among the Worst- hit countries in Southeast

Asia, with more than 1.1 million confirmed cases, and more than eighteen thousand

deaths as of mid- May 2021

Lastly, Gov. Susan Yap (2020) the governor of Tarlac Province said, out of 1.4

million living in Tarlac province, there are only few frontline workers in Tarlac. so take

COVID-19 as a serious matter. the report of DOH as of June 10, 2021 in Tarlac City,

Central Luzon confirmed that there is 5,789 recoveries and 7,512 confirmed cases.

This study has the potential to describe COVID-19 Survivors' thoughts, health

situations, feelings, behaviors, challenges, and struggles in order for the general public to

comprehend the situation faced by COVID-19 survivors and to encourage people to stay

safe and follow safety protocols, as well as to recognize COVID-19 as a serious issue.

This can also help infected people gain knowledge by providing ways and approaches

they used to manage with their circumstance.

Statement of the Problem

The study will describe the Lived Experiences of COVID-19 survivors.

 Specifically, it shall seek to answer the following questions:

1. How may the COVID-19 survivors be described as to their:

1.1 Age;

1.2 Sex; and

1.3 health and nutrition?

2. What are the experiences of COVID-19 survivors in terms of:

2.1 Challenges and struggles;

2.2 Coping Mechanism?

3. How did COVID-19 affect the survivors in terms of their:

3.1 Physical Health;

3.2 Mental Health; and

3.3 Social Health?

4. What government programs are implemented to aid COVID- 19 infected person?

Significance of the study

This research is significant to the following:

To the Psychologist. This would help them to comprehend how COVID-19-

patients think, feel, act the way they do, as well as classify psychological disorders in

order to better comprehend the symptoms and effects of COVID-19 to patients and

survivors.
 To the Government. This study could help them plan an effective

implementation of protocols during the COVID-19 pandemic and to legislate laws to

protect against survivors of COVID-19.

To the COVID-19 patients. This study would be beneficial to the COVID-19-

patients: COVID-19-survivors can voice out their sentiments about how they are treated

in the facility, as well as suggestions on how to improve the health care services which

may brought benefit to the present and future patients.

To the future researchers. This study would help them as a guide to conduct a

research which contains the limitations of this study.

Scope and Delimitation

This study will describe the experiences of COVID- 19 survivors. Using interview

and involving five (5) participants, answers to the question will be sought.

Initially, the participants will be described as to their profile. Mainly, their age

when they knew that they were positive in COVID-19, sex, and health and nutrition will

be described. Moreover, the study will seek to describe their most challenging

experiences and coping mechanism. Furthermore, the study will seek how COVID-19

survivors affects in terms of their physical, mental, and social well- being. And lastly,

what government programs are implemented to aid COVID-19- infected.

Definition of Terms

In light of the study, the following terminologies are operational defined.

 Age. In this study, it refers to the actual participants age when they knew that they

were COVID-19- positive.

Challenges. In this study, it pertains to the experiences of COVID-19 survivors

that is, being hard or difficult to be done or accomplished.

Coping mechanism. In this study, it pertains to the ways of COVID-19 survivors

to cope on painful or challenging emotions when they are stressed and traumatized.

COVID Survivors. In this study, it pertains to a person who survived or

remained alive after contracting to COVID-19, which others have died.

COVID-19. In this study, it pertains to the name of the illness produced by the

virus that causes an infectious disease, which stands for “corona virus disease, 2019.”

Experiences. In this study, it refers to the circumstances and true events that

happened to the COVID-19 survivors.

Government programs. In this study, it refers to the assistance of the

Government to the infected person needs.

Health and nutrition. In this study, it refers to a mental and physical condition

of COVID-19 survivors.

Mental Health. In this study, it refers to a condition of behavioral health,

cognitive, and emotional well-being of COVID-19- survivors.

Physical Health. In this study, it refers to COVID-19 survivors physical body’s

state and how well it functions.

Sex. In this study it pertains to describe the characteristic that defines an

individual’s reproductive function either male or female.

 Social Health. In this study, it refers to ability to engage and develop meaningful

relationship with others. it relates to COVID survivors how comfortably they can adapt in

social situations.

Chapter 2

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND STUDIES

Related Literature

COVID-19 pandemic impacts the whole world rapidly and according to United

Nations (2021), one of the most vulnerable to the massive effects of this COVID-19 are

the third world countries including the country of the Philippines with most of its COVID

cases located in the National Capital Region (NCR).

This disease has been easily transmitted from one person to another that can be

spread through droplets or contact with the person who is positive for the virus. Many of

the COVID-19 infected people do not have the symptoms of the disease, but

unfortunately, these people still carry and can infect others. (DOH, 2020).

Allyson M. Pollock (2020) Symptomatic and pre symptomatic transmission is

more contagious than asymptomatic transmission. Coughing is a common indication of

symptomatic transmission, which can lead to viral and saliva transmission when people

communicate.

The COVID-19 epidemic has spread across the globe, affecting practically all

countries and territories. The outbreak was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan,
China. People were urged to be cautious by countries all across the world. Handwashing,

face masks, physical distancing, and avoiding large gatherings and assemblies have all

been implemented as public health measures. In order to flatten the curve and control the

spread of the disease, lockdown and stay-at-home techniques have been implemented.

(Sintema, 2020).

COVID-19 infected people are the ones who have been most affected by the

pandemic including the problems they have faced in health, financial, and social status.

These infected people including the survivors have experienced different symptoms

which are observed physically like fever, dry cough, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, and

more for some time. However, there are cases of people who experienced severe

symptoms like strokes, brain inflammation, delirium, shortness of breath that made those

people suffer even further or worse died. (WHO, 2021).

For most patients with severe illness requiring hospitalization, COVID-19 has

been a frightening and life-changing experience. At the peak of the pandemic, the

attention of health care teams was focused on saving lives and protecting health services

from being overwhelmed. Those who survived were often discharged without a robust

process of follow-up. The prevalence of post–COVID-19 complications is not yet fully

known and may only become apparent in the months and years to come. (Geberhiwot et

al., 2020)

Quarantine is linked to stress and despair, which leads to a poor diet and lack of

physical activity. During isolation, a diet deficient in fruits and vegetables is common,

resulting in a low intake of antioxidants and vitamins. Vitamins, on the other hand, have
just lately been discovered as a key weapon in the fight against the Cov-19 virus.

According to some findings, Vitamin D may protect against this type of infection. During

quarantine, efforts should be adopted to improve home-based physical activity and

encourage adherence to a nutritious diet. The World Health Organization (WHO) has

lately produced advise for those in self-quarantine, who do not have any symptoms or a

diagnosis of acute respiratory infection, that includes tips on how to stay active and

decrease sedentary behavior while at home. (Mattioli et al., 2020)

Along with these difficulties, these people also experienced psychological and

mental effects of COVID-19 like stress, anxiety, depression, frustration which affect their

overall well-being while struggling in surviving the risk of COVID. Some survivors,

after they are done fighting for their lives to the risk of COVID-19 are still struggling

because of psychological trauma. One of the psychological traumas they encountered is

what they called Survivor Guilt. It is defined as the unfounded sense that they have done

something wrong by not getting infected or even by surviving the disease. The traumatic

stress which the COVID survivors are experiencing is different from the normal life

stress that most of the individuals have encountered. Because their traumatic stress can

lead to avoidance and emotional numbness and shame. (UCSF, 2021).

The stress, mental anguish, internalized stigma, feelings of guilt for infecting

close family members, shame for infecting others, anger directed at oneself, cursing one's

fate, and wondering "why God has punished me and my family" compound the distress

of remaining socially isolated from the family in a "locked up" state. All of these

difficulties show that patients diagnosed with COVID-19 infection and admitted to
COVID wards are suffering from mental health concerns. People's lived experiences

bring the issue of "no health, no mental health" to the forefront. Apart from anxiety,

sadness, and insomnia, mental health providers must know that guilt, wrath, frustration,

and internalized stigma will be key difficulties for these individuals, which they must

address. (Sahoo et. al., 2020)

Social mobility restrictions imposed to combat the epidemic are stressful because

they hinder face-to-face contact and traditional social relationships (Zhang et al., 2020).

Those who can go out, such as professionals who offer critical services, showed less

anxiety and sadness symptoms than those who stayed at home for 20 to 24 hours.

COVID-related symptoms or suspected COVID contacts were segregated and segregated

from their loved ones. In prior epidemics, the forced quarantine has been connected to

negative psychological impacts such as anxiety of contracting the infection and

transferring it to family members, annoyance and boredom from being isolated, duration

of uncertainty, and lack of basic necessities (Brooks et al., 2020).

Related Studies

Foreign

WHO (2021), found that the majority of deaths occur in adults over the age of 60,

with a fatality rate of over 95 percent, and in persons aged 80 or older, with a fatality rate

of 50 percent. Furthermore, according to statistics, 8 out of 10 deaths are caused by a pre-

existing ailment such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, or diabetes.

 (Olufadewa et al., 2020), conducted a study entitled “A Qualitative Study on the

Physiological and Psychological Experience of COVID-19 Survivors and the Quality of

Care Received at Health Facilities, it is said here that most of the survivors of the

COVID-19 disease experienced psychological issues, those patients continuously

experienced overthinking about their health and the possibility of death. Those survivors

also experienced worrying themselves rather than resting, thinking about their guilt of not

taking the virus seriously, blaming themselves for risking the lives of their loved ones,

also finding out where they possibly acquired the disease. Numerous of them were losing

hope while in the journey of fighting the virus, but one of the reasons why they kept

fighting is because of their family and friends who continuously supported them and gave

them hope despite the challenges they had.

The stigma associated with COVID-19 puts the lives of healthcare personnel,

patients, and survivors of the disease in jeopardy. Although the recent public outpourings

of support for COVID-19 responders are heartwarming, many responders continue to

face harassment, stigmatization, and physical violence.” World Health Organization also

revealed that "certain healthcare personnel may sadly encounter avoidance by their

family or community owing to stigma or fear" in a statement released on March 18, 2020.

This can make an already difficult situation much more so.” (Sanjeet Bagcchi,2020)

From the study of Temiloluwa Prioleau (2021) A family or household member

was the most common way for people to catch SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes

COVID-19. The infection then spread across the workplace, infecting vital staff.

Participants reported up to 27 less-well-documented symptoms such as brain or memory

fog, palpitations, ear ache or discomfort, and neurological issues during their illness.

Furthermore, even in moderate cases of COVID-19, participants stated that their

symptoms lingered longer than the usually mentioned 2-week interval. The average

recovery period for study participants was 4.5 weeks, and exactly half of them (50

percent) still had COVID-19 symptoms 65 days after the disease began. Furthermore,

participants reported feeling stigmatized as a result of contracting COVID-19. Based on

the current findings of that study, some people may have a long and unpleasant trip ahead

of them. Furthermore, a significant number of COVID-19 survivors are classified as

"long haulers." This refers to those who have symptoms that last for weeks or even

months after contracting the virus. Moreover, hundreds of people have died as a result of

infection with the same virus, with disproportionately high rates among Black and

Hispanic Americans.

Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis showed

COVID-19 survivors, including those who are not sick enough to be hospitalized, have

an elevated risk of mortality six months after being diagnosed with the virus, They've

also compiled a list of the many ailments linked to COVID-19, providing a big-picture

view of the disease's long-term consequences and demonstrating the tremendous burden

COVID-19 is anticipated to impose on the world's population in the future years.

(Science Daily, 2021)

Local
 One of the world's longest and strictest lockdowns has been described as the

Philippine response to COVID-19. The wearing of masks and social isolation were

tightly enforced, and entire provinces and cities were placed under lockdown. Mobility

was prohibited. Punishments action was taken in response to violations. To guarantee that

order was maintained and that all health regulations were followed, the government relied

heavily on the police and military. As a result, some observers and academics have

labeled the government's response as "draconian," "militarized," or "police-centric."

(Maru, 2020).

As the number of instances climbs, so does social prestige and discrimination

against survivors. In Caloocan City, quarantine bands have been approved, requiring

people to wear them to track their location and to remove them once the COVID test

results are available. Wearing this band in public could lead to discrimination against the

wearer and his or her family. People who notice quarantine bands may take a step back or

insult the individual. Such activities may cause a person's mental and emotional

instability. The assistance of the people around them is critical in coping with these

physical, mental, and social challenges. Those individuals will aid in the recognition and

mitigation of COVID-19 survivors' psychological reactions. It includes saying things to

them that will make them feel better, as well as encouraging them to do mind-body

exercises including meditation, physical and breathing exercises, and social activities to

help them feel better. (Lieberman,2020).

One-fourth of respondents expressed moderate-to-severe anxiety during the early

stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Philippines, one-seventh indicated moderate-to-

severe stress levels, and one-sixth indicated moderate-to-severe depression and

psychological effects of the outbreak. Female gender, 12-21 years old, single status,

students, presence of specific physical symptoms (e.g., headache, cough, chills), recent

imposed quarantine by a health authority, prolonged stay at home, poor self-reported

health status, and a feeling of excessive worry have all been identified as COVID-19 risk

factors. Fears of family members becoming ill, as well as a sense of being discriminated

against by other people, were linked to a stronger psychological impact of the epidemic,

as well as higher levels of stress, anxiety, and despair. The psychological impact of the

pandemic was reduced, and having children older than 16 years old, a positive opinion of

their health, and trust in their own health care providers were linked to lower levels of

stress, worry, and sorrow (Tee et al., 2020).

In the Philippines, where universal health care is not yet fully implemented, those

with medical insurance coverage experienced fewer anxiety symptoms than those

without. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (2020), which promised to cover

the whole cost of COVID-19 hospitalization for its members, may have had a good

impact on the public's mental health.

Department of Health (2021), stated that despite the protocols and efforts of the

Philippine government, the Philippines remains one of the most affected countries by the

pandemic. With the availability of vaccines, the Philippines now has an opportunity to

fight the pandemic by administering vaccines to the most vulnerable people including the

elderly and comorbid people. The Philippines COVID-19 Emergency Response Project

strengthens the country’s capability to prevent, detect, and respond to the threat of
COVID-19. Also, to strengthen national systems for public health preparedness and

awareness.

Conceptual Framework

Figure 1 shows the flow of the study.

Profile of the respondents in terms of:

 Age
 Sex
 Health & Nutrition

Experiences of COVID-19 survivors in

terms of:
 Challenges and struggles
 Coping Mechanism
COVID-19
Survivors
Effects of COVID-19 survivors in terms of
their:
 Physical Health
 Mental Health
 Social Health
 Government programs that are
implemented to aid COVID- 19 infected
person.

Chapter 3

METHODS OF RESEARCH AND SOURCES OF DATA

This Chapter focuses on the methodology of the study. It specifically presents the

steps and procedures that the researcher implemented in order to effectively achieve the

problems identified in Chapter 1.

Research Design

The way data would be gathered, presented, and analyzed shows that the study is

Qualitative Research. A Qualitative Research is defined as an inquiry process of

understanding a social or human problem, based on building a complex, holistic picture,

formed with words, reporting detailed views of informants, and conducted in a natural

setting (Creswell, 1994).

Specifically, the study will use phenomenological design. A phenomenological

design describes the meaning for several individuals of their lived experiences of a

concept or a phenomenon. In other words, it focuses on describing a phenomenon that all

participants have experienced, such as learning a second language in a school system.

(Creswell, 2007).

Research Locale
 The study will be conducted at Tarlac, officially the Province of Tarlac. Tarlac is

the most multicultural of the Central Luzon provinces. A mixture of four distinct groups-

the Pampangos, Ilocanos, Pangasinense and Tagalogs.

Tarlac was chosen because it is part of the worldwide corona virus disease

pandemic of 2019, both the researchers and participants are currently affiliated in this

locale. As a result, data collection will be made easier.

Subjects of the Study

The study will involve COVID-19 survivors at Tarlac City, Philippines.

Specifically, five (5) participants will be purposively selected. Purposive sampling is

intentional selection of informants based on their ability to elucidate a specific theme,

concept, or phenomenon (Robinson, 2014).

Moreover, according to Morse (1998), at least five (5) participants should be

involved in a phenomenological design.

Research Instrument

A research- made interview will be used as a main tool for gathering data.

 Interview Guide

A 25- item interview questionnaire will be formulated by the researchers.

Subsequently, three (3) experts in the field shall be consulted to assure its validity.

Specifically, five (5) items for the profile of the participants, five (5) items for

challenges/struggles/Difficulties they encountered, five (5) items for their coping

mechanism, five (5) items for the effects of COVID-19 as to their physical, mental, and
social health, and five (5) items for government programs implemented to aid COVID-19

patients/infected person.

Interview Guide

1. Profile of the participants

a. What was your age when you found out that you were COVID-19

positive?

b. What is your gender?

c. Do you have any illnesses, disabilities, or ongoing condition before you

found out that you are a COVID positive?

d. Are you underweight, normal, overweight or obese?

e. What is your condition when you found out that you are infected? Is it

asymptomatic, mild, moderate, severe, or critical?

2. Challenges/Struggles/Difficulties

a. How did you feel when you found out that you are infected to COVID-

19?

b. What is the most challenging day when you are in a quarantine?

c. How many weeks did it take you to recover from COVID-19?

d. How were the doctors & staff treated you?

e. How many days did the worst of it last?

3. Coping mechanisms
 a. What/Who helps you to overcome these challenges?

b. How do you deal with panic episodes, anxiety, and sudden burst of

sadness?

c. What were the medications and treatments that helped you the most?

d. Is there any foods/drinks you need to avoid and to consider?

e. Did you take any medicine? If yes what exactly are they?

4. Effects of COVID-19

a. Did you experience any symptoms? If so, what exactly are they?

b. What is the most stressful experience when you are in a quarantine?

c. Did your way of thinking change after you were recovered?

d. What emotions did you feel when you are experiencing those struggles?

e. Have you experienced any stigma associated with having COVID-19?

5. Government programs implemented

a. What measures were taken by the government authorities?

b. What did your health care provider or the testing center tell you about

COVID-19?

c. What other tests have you had, Where? When? What were the results?

d. Is there any government agencies offers financial help support?

e. Did you get any benefits/help from the government?