The impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on social and economic welfare in Uganda.

Autor: Musoke D; Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. dmusoke@musph.ac.ug., Nalinya S; Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda., Lubega GB; Department of Disease Control and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda., Deane K; The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK., Ekirapa-Kiracho E; Department of Health Policy, Planning and Management, School of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda., McCoy D; International Institute for Global Health, United Nations University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique [Arch Public Health] 2024 Aug 06; Vol. 82 (1), pp. 117. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 06.
DOI: 10.1186/s13690-024-01337-x
Abstrakt: Background: As a measure to slow down the transmission of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19), governments around the world placed their countries under various stringent lockdown measures. Uganda is one of the countries that had a strict lockdown in Africa. This qualitative study explored the social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown in both an urban (Kampala) and rural (Wakiso) setting in Central Uganda.
Methods: The study used focus group discussions (FGDs), household interviews, and key informant interviews (KIIs). 14 FGDs were conducted among several stakeholders including community health workers, health professionals, and members of the community. 40 household interviews were conducted among low, middle, and high-income households, while 31 KIIs were held among policy makers, non-governmental organisations, and the private sector. Data were analysed thematically in NVivo 2020 (QSR International).
Results: Findings from the study are presented under six themes: family disruption; abuse of children's rights; disruption in education; food insecurity; impact on livelihoods; and violation of human rights. The study found that the COVID-19 lockdown led to family breakups, loss of family housing, as well as increased both caring responsibilities and gender-based violence especially towards females. Children's welfare suffered through increased child labour, sexual exploitation, and early marriages. The extended closure of schools led to delayed educational milestones, poor adaptation to home-based learning, and increased school drop-out rates. Increased food insecurity led to changes in feeding patterns and reduced food varieties. Livelihoods were negatively affected hence people depleted their savings and capital. Unlawful detention and beating by law enforcement officers increased during the lockdown.
Conclusion: Future pandemic planning needs to consider the consequences of lockdown on the social and economic wellbeing of communities hence put in place appropriate mitigation measures during and after the outbreak.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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