COVID-19 pandemic in an environment of uncertainty

This thesis explores the multifaceted impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic in Istanbul, Turkey from an anthropological perspective, focusing on the concept of uncertainty. The research examines the role of uncertainty in individuals' health experiences, decision-making processes of healthcare professionals, and the shaping of public health policies. The thesis analyzes how the uncertainties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have exposed gaps in medical knowledge and practices, and how these uncertainties have intertwined with social and political dynamics. Additionally, the research covers medical uncertainties arising during and after the pandemic, challenges in diagnosis and treatment processes, the diversity of symptoms, and variability in treatment responses. The importance of further research around the theme of uncertainty within the contexts of health perception, social relationships, and health policies is emphasized from an anthropological standpoint. Ethnographic analysis utilizing experiences from diverse segments of the population, including patients and health professionals, provides valuable resources for understanding the social and cultural impacts. The study involved semi-structured interviews with 22 healthcare professionals and patients.