Lockdowns, lives and livelihoods: the impact of COVID-19 and public health responses to conflict affected populations - a remote qualitative study in Baidoa and Mogadishu, Somalia
This study employs a novel remote qualitativeresearch method in a conflict-affected setting to look at how some of the most at-risk internally displaced and hostpopulations were impacted by COVID-19, what determined their responses, and how this affected their health andsocio-economic vulnerability.
The remote research approach demonstrated efficacy in sustaining trusted and meaningful conversationsfor gathering qualitative data from hard-to-reach conflict-affected communities. The major themes discussed by the35 participants included health, livelihoods and education. Two participants contracted the disease, while othersreported family or community members affected by COVID-19. Almost all participants faced a loss of income and/or education, primarily as a result of the strict public health measures. Some of those who were heavily affectedeconomically but did not directly experienced disease, denied the pandemic. Religion played an important role inparticipants’beliefs in protection against and salvation from the disease. As lockdowns were lifted in August 2020,many believed the pandemic to be over.
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