The Institute of Tropical Medicine is responsible for Work Package 4 (WP4) of the Death Care project, which focuses on equipping last responders and mourners to better handle current and future health crises. In recent years, Belgian society has been confronted with several deadly catastrophes. These include the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020-2021-2022, but also the floods of July 2021. During such catastrophes, most sectors had to switch their day-to-day operations to disaster mode. For sectors such as medicine and defense, much thought has gone into thinking about proper modes of operation, and specific protocols are often in place. For the funeral sector, far less conceptual and practical work has been done, although several studies during and after the pandemic have investigated the impact on funeral practices, mourning practices and employability and mental health of funeral workers. Research indicates that pandemics and natural disasters exacerbate the challenges associated with the proper and respectful storage and burial of deceased individuals (Suwalowska et al., 2021). Through comprehensive qualitative research, WP4 aims to provide insights and practical recommendations to support both last responders and grieving families during difficult times. The development of these guidelines will also take into account the diverse funeral needs and preferences within communities (Routen et al, 2021). By addressing legal gaps, improving worker protection, and acknowledging the needs of diverse populations, we aim to create a funeral sector that is sustainable and compassionate, ready to serve society in its most vulnerable moments.
The COVID-19 Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2022) serves as an important case study for this research project. The rapid spread of COVID-19 prompted many countries to implement unprecedented outbreak control measures, combining containment and reduction activities to mitigate the otherwise devastating effects of the pandemic (de Conick et al., 2020; Vanhamel et al., 2021). These actions aimed to delay major surges in patients, balance the demand for hospital beds, and protect the most vulnerable individuals from infection. The exponential increase in deaths during the pandemic underscored the crucial role of last responders and the funeral sector during public health emergencies. It highlighted the possibility of conducting funeral practices differently while also exposing the vulnerabilities within the sector (Raymaekers, 2021).
Objectives
In collaboration with the funeral sector and in response to gaps in the existing scientific literature, the following objectives have been established for WP4:
1. To provide an in-depth understanding of the legislation governing the funeral sector during COVID-19 and make recommendations for future pandemics.
2. To gain an intersectional understanding of the experiences of funeral workers regarding epidemics and disease outbreaks, including the experiences related to funerals due to pregnancy loss.
3. To understand how funeral partners managed burials for religious minority groups during COVID-19.
4. To explore innovative, art-based methods and public engagement activities to expand discussion and dialogue around pandemic preparedness and the role of the funeral sector.
5. To formulate recommendations on funeral work and health related crises.
References
de Coninck, D., d’Haenens, L., & Matthijs, K. (2020). Perceived vulnerability to disease and attitudes towards public health measures: COVID-19 in Flanders, Belgium. Personality and Individual Differences, 166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2020.110220
Raymaekers, V., Demeestere, J., Bellante, F., de Blauwe, S., de Raedt, S., Dusart, A., Jodaitis, L., Lemmens, R., Loos, C., Noémie, L., Rutgers, M. P., Vandervorst, F., Vanhooren, G., Yperzeele, L., Nogueira, R. G., Nguyen, T. N., & Vanacker, P. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on acute stroke care in Belgium. Acta Neurologica Belgica, 121(5), 1251–1258. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13760-021-01726-x
Routen, A., Darko, N., Willis, A., Miksza, J., & Khunti, K. (2021). “It’s so tough for us now” – COVID-19 has negatively impacted religious practices relating to death among minority ethnic groups. Public Health, 194, 146–148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2021.03.007
Suwalowska, H., Amara, F., Roberts, N., & Kingori, P. (2021). Ethical and sociocultural challenges in managing dead bodies during epidemics and natural disasters. BMJ Global Health, 6(11). https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2021-006345
Vanhamel, J., Meudec, M., van Landeghem, E., Ronse, M., Gryseels, C., Reyniers, T., Rotsaert, A., Ddungu, C., Manirankunda, L., Katsuva, D., Grietens, K. P., & Nöstlinger, C. (2021). Understanding how communities respond to COVID-19: experiences from the Orthodox Jewish communities of Antwerp city. International Journal for Equity in Health, 20(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-021-01417-2