Experiences of volunteers as change agents for prevention of COVID-19 in Cox’s Bazaar, Bangladesh: an exploratory qualitative study

Abstract

Background: Community volunteers are an important backbone for engaging communities to bring about health related behaviour change among the people of the communities. In recent years the pandemic due to Coronavirus 2019 has gained all the momentum and most of the preventive strategies have been shifted in reducing the further transmission of this virus and curbing the pandemic. This study examines the volunteering experience of the volunteers working in the BRAC Community Support Team intervention as change agents in the Cox Bazaar community. The area has been chosen for its high urban and peri urban type of population density. Methods: This was an exploratory qualitative study done among ten volunteers involved in BRAC CST project in Ramu, Sadar and Kutubdia upazilas of Cox’s Bazaar. In depth interviews were conducted and data was organised, coded and analysed using manual coding and web-based software Dedoose. Thematic analysis has been done and results has been interpreted using the Social Cognitive Theory. Results: Ten volunteers were interviewed, out of which 1 is female and 9 males. The age ranges from 21 to 38 years. All volunteers perceived their desire to work as a volunteer a noble cause for the community. They were also recognised and respected in the society for their work done. Social recognition, job satisfaction for working in public welfare and support from their families and communities helped them to perform their job better. However, social, cultural and language barrier and shaming of their work by abusing and harassing played an important role in hindrance to performing their activities as change agents. There were also some power distribution roles in community which hampered the volunteering activity. Lack of refresher training and limited resources and absence of mobility support are some of the identified factors that also hampered their activity as a change agent. Conclusion: In general volunteers were able to perform their assigned tasks. However, ensuring continuous organisational support, refresher trainings can lead to a greater motivation for acting as a change agent and performing their tasks better. Future research directed towards exploring the gender differences in experiences will also add to the knowledge gap.