Towards a Unified Understanding of Social Distancing During the Time of COVID-19 Through an Exploration of Definitions, Coping Mechanisms, Economic Impact, and Unintended Consequences

India Kenya Nigeria Health & Nutrition

Towards a Unified Understanding of Social Distancing During the Time of COVID-19 Through an Exploration of Definitions, Coping Mechanisms, Economic Impact, and Unintended Consequences

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Researchers

Chaning Jang, Marieke Schomerus, Anisha Singh, Sarah Swanson, Irene Ngina, Hakan M. Seckinelgin

Abstract

On March 11, the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus (or COVID-19) as a global pandemic. Since then, many governments have introduced guidelines and orders in the hopes of stopping the spread of coronavirus within their country. With people staying indoors and severely limiting their activities, their interpersonal and societal interactions are undergoing significant transformation. However, there has been little documentation and understanding of how individuals are perceiving the crisis and behaving in response. This project's researchers are not only interested in understanding people’s experience of social distancing, but also capturing how other aspects of their lives have been affected by this practice. During this time, the most vulnerable groups, low-income individuals, migrant or daily wage workers, women, and victims of gender-based violence, are forced into difficult situations. Understanding the perspectives of these groups on social distancing is vital to implementing and sustaining such drastic measures while also balancing the health and wellness needs of every individual.

The focus of this study is to understand people’s perceptions of social distancing and its impact on their lives, specifically related to issues of gender, economic sustainability, and coping. This understanding will equip researchers with the insights to consider and design interventions to protect citizens and vulnerable populations. A portion of the survey will be repeated over a period of time to track patterns of the mental health of populations, perceptions towards social distancing, and resulting implications over time in order to provide forward-looking recommendations to authorities. Participants are being drawn from the Busara Center’s existing database of survey respondents in Kenya, India, and Nigeria. 

Project Outcomes of Interest

Perceptions of social distancing and its impact on participants' lives, specifically related to issues of gender, economic sustainability, and coping

Partners

London School of Economics, Busara Center for Behavioral Economics

Impact Goals

  • Improve social-safety net responses
  • Improve women’s health, safety, and economic empowerment
  • Promote peace and safety, and improve humanitarian response
  • Reduce COVID-19 transmission rates

Project Data Collection Mode

  • CATI (Computer-assisted telephone interviewing)
  • IVR (Interactive voice response)
  • SMS

Implementing Organization

Busara Center for Behavioral Economics

Results Status

No Results Yet