Browsing by Author | މުސައްނިފުން "Moosa, Sheena"

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Article
Determinants of socioeconomic experiences during COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives
(Research Development Office, The Maldives National University, 2020-12) Musthafa, Hawwa Shiuna; Riyaz, Aminath; Moosa, Sheena; Abdul Raheem, Raheema; Naeem, Aishath Zeen
This paper evaluates the individual experiences and perceptions of the public about the COVID-19 pandemic in the Maldives. The data was collected from a probability sample comprising 1026 respondents using an online survey. The results show that less than 1% of the respondents tested positive for COVID-19 at the time. The fear of the pandemic, in terms of probable health and economic impact, was significantly higher than the actual experience of the pandemic with 6.8 percent reporting loss of employment. Participants who considered religion as very important show a higher psychological wellbeing. Over 12% of the participants believed that the pandemic to be a hoax. The findings showed inclination of the people lay more towards solidarity rather than hostility during these trying times, with at least one third of the respondents identifying with complete solidarity. The findings provide suggestions for health practitioners to communicate more effectively with the public during the crisis.
Article
Nowcasting the COVID 19 epidemic in the Maldives
(The Research Centre, Maldives National University, 2020-08) Moosa, Sheena; Usman, Sofoora Kawsar
The novelty of COVID‑19 prompted reliance on mathematical modelling to guide decision making and planning pandemic response. The compartment model using suspected, infected recovered and death (SIRD) as used in the Maldives to forecast the epidemic which was nowcasted (adjusted in real-time) to produce parameters on epidemic progression in the Male’ area to allow for quick decision making. Deriving the model input parameters were challenging and introduced a greater level of uncertainty in model output parameters. Recognition of the data limitation in presenting model outputs allowed for quick decision making in the COVID‑19 early phase towards control of the epidemic.
Article
Perceptions of Leprosy in the Maldives : a cross-sectional study
(Research Development Office, The Maldives National University, 2023-07) Moosa, Sheena; Abdul Raheem, Raheema; Ali, Sheeza; Saleem, Sana; Rasheed, Ryan Shah; ޝީނާ މޫސާ; ރަހީމާ އަބްދުއްރަހީމް; ޝީޒާ އަލީ; ސަނާ ސަލީމް; ރަޔަން ޝާހް ރަޝީދު
The aim of the study is to assess the knowledge, attitude and practices regarding leprosy. A cross sectional survey of a nationally representative sample was implemented among the resident adult population (18 years and above) across the islands of Maldives. The survey sample size estimated was 1181 and a total of 1024 respondents completed the survey accounting for a response rate of 86.7%. The questions to measure indicators of knowledge, attitude and practices regarding leprosy were adopted from existing validated instruments used for leprosy KAP studies. The findings show a low level of knowledge with a mean of 3.5 in the KAP measure, where the maximum score is eight. However, the attitude and practices score does not indicate a high level of negative attitudes and practices (below the mid-point). The mean score of EMIC-CSS is 12, slight inclination towards less negative attitudes (EMIC-CSS scale scores ranges from zero = no negative attitudes, to 30 = most negative attitudes). The mean score of SDS is 8.9 indicating moderate level of negative practices (SDS scale scores ranges from zero = no negative practices to 21 = most negative practices). As Leprosy in the Maldives is no longer a public health burden, and the disease prevalence is extremely low, it has created a situation where there is very little awareness and correct knowledge about the disease among the public as well as health care workers. The attitudes and practices from the family and community are not at alarming levels in terms of stigma and social distancing. However, the low level of knowledge raises the concern that cases may be missed and as patients may be missed as they may not seek healthcare for early diagnosis and treatment
Article
Risk communications in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic : the Maldives’ experience
(Research Development Office, The Maldives National University, 2020-12) Usman, Thasleema; Moosa, Sheena
Risk communication strategies and modalities are at the heart of the pandemic response containment and mitigation. As the pandemic unfolded across the world, a small island country like the Maldives in democratic transition and highly dependent on other economies perceived risks beyond that of health effects to the economic and political spheres. In this context, the multi-media approach adopted in communicating risks and response interventions were effective in building confidence in the national response towards transmission of COVID-19 specific knowledge and prevention behaviour. Despite best efforts, shortcomings were experienced in reaching vulnerable segments such as migrants and persons with disabilities. The prolonged pandemic demands re-focussing risk communication towards empowering institutions for providing low risk modalities for individuals returning to work and daily life with preventive behaviours.
Article
Stability of values and opinions during the COVID-19 crisis: panel study data from the Maldives
(Research Development Office, The Maldives National University, 2023-07) Musthafa, Hawwa Shiuna; ހައްވާ ޝިއުނާ މުސްތަފާ; Moosa, Sheena; ޝީނާ މޫސާ; Riyaz, Aminath; އާމިނަތު ރިޔާޒު; Raheem, Raheema Abdul; ރަހީމާ އަބްދުލް ރަހީމް
The underlying assumption of the present COVID-19 crisis is that it can profoundly change the public values and opinions during its various phases leading to permanent societal and economic changes. This research is part of a longitudinal study of values in a crisis during the different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. The same set of respondents from the wave 1 of Values in Crisis (VIC) survey of May 2020 (n=1026) were invited to participate in wave 2 in November 2021, achieving a response rate of 60.0% (n=615). To check the stability of values, Kendall’s tau-b coefficient was used to estimate the correlation coefficient to measure the strength of association of selected variables. These include national pride, political orientation, faith, social trust, financial satisfaction, work-life balance, satisfaction with life and social relations, health, trust in institutions, and social cohesion. The main findings indicate that, during the two years of the crisis, values and opinions remained largely stable in the Maldives. The research concludes with reflections drawn and opens avenues for debate for social science practitioners expecting drastic changes in people’s values and opinions due to the COVID-19 crisis.
Article
Survey sampling in the time of social distancing experiences from a quantitative research in the wake of COVID 19 pandemic
(The Research Centre, Maldives National University, 2020-08) Riyaz, Aminath; Musthafa, Hawwa Shiuna; Abdul Raheem, Raheema; Moosa, Sheena
This paper explores the practical difficulties of conducting an online quantitative survey across the Maldives during the COVID‑19 pandemic response to study people’s values in the midst of a crisis, and addresses crisis experience and perception, value orientation, personality traits, social cohesion, and trust in relevant authorities. This paper reports on the methodological component and not on the survey findings. A stratified systematic random sampling approach was used, with stratification on urbanrural clusters (cities and other islands), gender, and age of the population to recruit at least 400 from the urban and 600 participants from the rural communities. To overcome the practical difficulty of accessing households due to restrictive measures across the Maldives and lockdown status in the greater Male’ area, the latest voters’ registry was used to select every nth participant as the sample frame. Participants were recruited through phone calls, and survey instrument shared via social media, achieving a response rate of 87%.The practical difficulties with the sampling approach were different in urbanrural clusters, ranging from securing the phone numbers for prospective participants, nonresponse to phone calls, discrepancies in internet access, and the lack of control on whether the intended participant was in fact the person completing the survey. To overcome these challenges, a mix of probability and non-probability sampling was utilised ensuring not more than one participant was recruited from any household, while adhering to the stratification of gender and age. The statistical findings on the validity and reliability of the data show that the recruited sample is representative of the population. This outcome highlights the adaptability and applicability of established quantitative research methods to a geographically dispersed small island developing state, under nonconventional situations.
Virtual focus group discussions : exploring new frontiers in qualitative methods
(The Maldives National Journal of Research, Maldives National University, 2022-07) Musthafa, Hawwa Shiuna; Moosa, Sheena; Hassan, Aishath
The COVID-19 pandemic triggered reactive innovation using digital technology in research methods. This paper presents experiences from the methodological component of conducting virtual focus group discussions among the highly dispersed island nation of the Maldives during the COVID-19 pandemic. The sample consisted of 99 participants divided among 28 virtual focus groups. The most populated regions of the Maldives i.e., Male’, Addu, Laamu, and Kulhuduffushi were selected. Additionally, two smaller islands with a population less than 400 people, namely, Rasgatheem and Madifushi, were also selected. The focus groups were determined by adopting a life cycle approach representing groups from childhood, youth, working age group, and senior citizens. To ensure inclusivity, three separate groups of men, women, and people with disabilities were also selected. The data collected was then subjected to thematic analysis. The findings indicated that with open discussions and engagement, facilitators were able to draw out shy participants and manage dominant participants in the Virtual Focus Group Discussion (VFGD). The caveat, however, is the need for internet connectivity and digital literacy of participants. The findings provided an in-depth understanding of the research problem. VFGD can become a mainstream data collection technique in the social qualitative inquiry especially with difficult-to-access and remote populations.
Thesis
The wellbeing and social connectedness of older people in the Small Island Developing State (SIDS) of Maldives
(The University of Waikato, 2016-01) Moosa, Sheena
Older people in small island developing states (SIDS) live within the context of a distinctive set of circumstances in terms of the unique geospatial characteristics of island nations, the typically small size and dispersed nature of populations, new and emerging environmental vulnerabilities, and associated threats to economic development. Such characteristics present distinctive challenges to the wellbeing of the increasing number of older people in such countries. In seeking to gain a better understanding of these challenges, this research examines the nature of the determinants of wellbeing for older people in SIDS through a case study of ageing and wellbeing in Maldives. Wellbeing is conceptualised as being constituted through success in critical life domains in a multidimensional model that includes the socio-cultural, geo-spatial and economic living environments of older people in Maldives. A capabilities approach to understanding wellbeing taking into account of the opportunities for older people to live a valued life - ‘to do and to be what they have reason to value’ – is adopted, and this informs the examination of older people’s experiences in the life domains of health, social connectedness, economic status, access to goods and services, and ability to conform with social norms and values. A survey instrument was developed in consultation with key individuals in the health and social service sector, along with a sample of older people themselves, and this was used to interview 393 older people (65 + years). The findings support the novel conceptualisation of the five life domains specific to this SIDS context. The most important determinants were health and social connectedness, each having a large impact on wellbeing, while economic status, ability to conform with social values and norms, and access to goods and services had small but significant correlations. The large contribution of social connectedness and the centrality of family in social connectedness points to the importance of collectivist social arrangements in Maldives, despite the geo-spatial challenges confronting a widely dispersed population. This approach to conceptualising wellbeing, and the indictors and measures that were developed provide a basis for further research and policy that extends beyond Maldives to other SIDS, and to international development partners.