THE CORONA VIRUS PANDAMIC: LIVED EXPERIENCES OF LOW-INCOME WOMEN HEADED HOUSEHOLDS IN WOREDA 10 OF KIRKOS SUB-CITY, ADDIS ABABA

Abstract

Although the strain of COVID-19 pandemic outbreak is unprecedented and has affected all people globally, its impacts exacerbate existing socioeconomic disparities, exposing low-income families and marginalized groups to greater vulnerabilities and difficulties. It had disproportionately affected women specifically low-income women. The study was amid to explore the lived experience of low income women headed households during the pandemic and also describe the sociocultural and economic effect it had. Their coping mechanisms and their experience to government‟s response has been explored. A qualitative study method has been followed to conduct the study. The data collection was conducted from May to June 20223in the six clusters of Woreda 10 of Kirkos Sub City using Key informant interview, in-depth interview and focus group discussions using purposive sampling method. Thematic analysis was employed, and the discussion is presented descriptive narrations. This study found that due to the work the study participants were engaged in, they were vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 and had no protective equipment, which they tried to cope with using locally available resources like scarfs and local dinks as sanitizers. The pandemic impacted their sociocultural, health, and economic well-being. Women lost livelihood means and the income they earned decreased drastically. Social interactions weekend due to physical distancing and women faced stress and anxiety. Hence, to cope with the challenges, women executed different strategies and this in tern played significant role in depleting assets of women leaving them to struggle to reopen their small businesses. The study recommend for the government to be in a better position in strengthening its preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation strategies to be in a better position to deal with and respond to needs of women with low income.