Impact of the COVID-19 control measures on rural households' access to social capital for mobilizing resources in Eastern Ethiopia.

Autor:	Endris GS; Rural Development and Innovation studies Haramaya University, Ethiopia., Wordofa MG; Insituions, Innovation systems, and Economic Development, Haramaya University, Ethiopia., Aweke CS; Extension and Community engagement, Haramaya University, Ethiopia., Hassen JY; Senior Agricultural extension scientists, Haramaya University, Ethiopia., Hussein JW; Professor of Cultural & Social Analysis, College of Social Sciences and Humanities, Haramaya University,Ethiopia., Ebrahim AS; Research and Extension, Haramaya University/Ministry of Science and Higher Education (MoSHE), Ethiopia., Hashim H; Rural Development and Agricultural extension, Haramaya University, Ethiopia., Ahmed E; Public health and Medical sciences, College of Health and Medical sciences, Haramaya University, Ethiopia., Okoyo EN; Rural Development and Agricultural extension, Haramaya University, Ethiopia.
Jazyk:	angličtina
Zdroj:	Scientific African [Sci Afr] 2022 Jul; Vol. 16, pp. e01258. Date of Electronic Publication: 2022 Jun 23.
DOI:	10.1016/j.sciaf.2022.e01258
Abstrakt:	Physical distancing and mobility restriction measures are used as central components of the COVID 19 response globally. In Ethiopia, the measures have been implemented against a complex social structure wherein social support practices (in the form of social capital) and daily social interactions are embedded. However, the mechanism of how such measures interact with various social capital practices and shape household access to various types of resources during the pandemic are less understood. This study examined the way the COVID-19 pandemic and protective measures shaped smallholder farmers' access to social capital for mobilizing resources during the pandemic. A total of 176 households were randomly selected for the quantitative survey. In addition, 25 key informant interviews were collected. Results show that prolonged physical distancing and mobility restrictions imposed to control the health impact of the pandemic have disrupted normal patterns of social interactions and resource sharing between households. The imposed measures significantly decreased households' access to food, information, credit/loan, labor, psychological support, and agricultural inputs and extension services. The study strongly suggests that the public health measure imposed for the COVID-19 prevention and control affect the proper functioning of a society's social capital framework, thereby, reducing poor households' ability to deal with socioeconomic crises and uncertainties. This implies that ongoing as well as future responses to the pandemic should adapt and integrate crisis management measures with the local risk-sharing mechanisms such as indigenous mutual support frameworks and processes. Harnessing inclusive social protection programs and building strong rural financial infrastructure and agricultural service delivery can help vulnerable households cope with shocks, improve the effectiveness of pandemic responses and facilitate post-crisis recovery. Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests. (© 2022 The Author(s).)
Databáze:	MEDLINE
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