Life became harder with COVID19 exploring the experiences of the COVID19 pandemic among youth living in eThekwini district South Africa

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dc.article.end-page9en
dc.article.start-page1en
dc.contributor.authorClosson, K.en
dc.contributor.authorDong, E.en
dc.contributor.authorZulu, Bongiween
dc.contributor.authorDietrich, Jananen
dc.contributor.authorZharima, Campionen
dc.contributor.authorJesson, J.en
dc.contributor.authorPakhomova, T.en
dc.contributor.authorBeksinska, Malgorzataen
dc.contributor.authorKaida, A.en
dc.date.accessioned2024-10-14T06:29:38Z
dc.date.available2024-10-14T06:29:38Z
dc.date.issued2024- 07
dc.description.abstractBackground: In South Africa, pervasive age and gender inequities have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and public health response. We aimed to explore experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic among youth in eThekwini district, South Africa. Methods: Between December 2021-May 2022 we explored experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth aged 16–24 residing in eThekwini, South Africa. We collated responses to the open-ended question “Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected you in any other way you want to tell us about?” in an online survey focused on understanding the pandemic’s multi-levelled health and social effects. We used a thematic analysis to summarise the responses. Results: Of 2,068 respondents, 256 (12.4%, median age = 22, 60.9% women) completed the open-ended survey question (11% in isiZulu). Results were organized into three main themes encompassing (1) COVID-19-related loss, fear, grief, and exacerbated mental and physical health concerns; (2) COVID-19-related intensified hardships, which contributed to financial, employment, food, education, and relationship insecurities for individuals and households; and (3) positive effects of the pandemic response, including the benefits of government policies and silver linings to government restrictions. Conclusions: We found that South African youth experienced significant grief and multiple losses (e.g., death, income, job, and educational) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Trauma-aware interventions that provide economic and educational opportunities must be included in post-COVID recovery efforts.
dc.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen
dc.identifier.citationClosson, K., Dong, E., Zulu, B. et al. ‘Life became harder with COVID-19’: exploring the experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic among youth living in eThekwini district, South Africa. BMC Public Health 24, 1922 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-19238-7en
dc.identifier.issn1471-2458 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1186/S12889-024-19238-7
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10539/41539
dc.journal.linkhttps://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/
dc.journal.titleBMC Public Healthen
dc.journal.volume24en
dc.publisherBiomed Central en
dc.schoolSchool of Clinical Medicine
dc.subjectAdolescents
dc.subjectCOVID-19
dc.subjectHealth equity
dc.subjectSouth Africa
dc.subjectYouth
dc.subject.otherSDG-3: Good health and well-being
dc.titleLife became harder with COVID19 exploring the experiences of the COVID19 pandemic among youth living in eThekwini district South Africaen
dc.typeArticleen
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