SARS-CoV-2 and self-medication in Cameroon: a mathematical model

Journal of Biological Dynamics

Rinel F. Tchuendom¹  Samuel A. Adeleye²  Fikreab Solomon Admasu³  Jude D. Kong⁴  Jummy F. David⁵  Emmanuel A. Bakare⁶  Nourridine Siewe⁷ 

[1] Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, McGill University;Department of Genetics, Rutgers University;Department of Mathematical Sciences, Binghamton University;Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University;Department of Mathematics, University of British Columbia;Laboratory of Modelling in infectious Diseases and Applied Sciences (LOMIDAS);School of Mathematical Sciences, College of Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology;

关键词: self-medication;    covid-19;    sars-cov-2;    basic reproduction number;    sensitivity analysis;   

DOI  :  10.1080/17513758.2021.1883130

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Self-medication is an important initial response to illness in Africa. This mode of medication is often done with the help of African traditional medicines. Because of the misconception that African traditional medicines can cure/prevent all diseases, some Africans may opt for COVID-19 prevention and management by self-medicating. Thus to efficiently predict the dynamics of COVID-19 in Africa, the role of the self-medicated population needs to be taken into account. In this paper, we formulate and analyse a mathematical model for the dynamics of COVID-19 in Cameroon. The model is represented by a system of compartmental age-structured ODEs that takes into account the self-medicated population and subdivides the human population into two age classes relative to their current immune system strength. We use our model to propose policy measures that could be implemented in the course of an epidemic in order to better handle cases of self-medication.

【 授权许可】

Unknown