Cohort Profile: Real-Time Insights of COVID-19 in India (RTI COVID-India)

Abstract BackgroundThe coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic caused disruption globally and was particularly distressing in low- and middle-income countries such as India. This study aimed to provide population representative estimates of COVID-related outcomes in India over time and characterize how COVID-related changes and impacts differ by key socioeconomic groups across the life course.MethodsThe sample was leveraged from an existing nationally representative study on cognition and dementia in India: the Harmonized Diagnostic Assessment of Dementia for the Longitudinal Aging Study in India (LASI-DAD). The wave-1 of LASI-DAD enrolled 4,096 older adults aged 60 years and older in 3,316 households from 18 states and union territories of India. Out of the 3,316 LASI-DAD households, 2,704 households with valid phone numbers were contacted and invited to participate in the Real-Time Insights COVID-19 in India (RTI COVID-India) study. RTI COVID-India is a bi-monthly phone survey that provides insight into the individual’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviour towards COVID-19 and changes in the household’s economic and health conditions throughout the pandemic. The survey was started in May,2020 and 8 rounds have been completed till date.Findings till dateOut of the 2,704 LASI-DAD households with valid phone numbers, 1,766 households participated in the RTI COVID-India survey at least once. Participants were in the age range of 16-102 years Using the first four waves of survey data, Schaner et al. (2022) reported a gradual decline in protective behaviours like mask wearing and hand washing alongside a more rapid decline in distancing behaviour with a 30% decline in social distancing observed over the first 4 survey waves. Furthermore, women and older adults showed less adherence to protective behaviour, likely due to lower levels of mobility.Future plansA nineth and final round of the study is underway to measure the economic and socio-behavioural changes in the aftermath of India’s Omicron wave. The study group will analyse the data collected showing the real-time changes throughout the pandemic and make them publicly available for researchers to conduct further studies.