THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON SOCIAL INTERACTION IN FAMILIES IN ABETIFI IN THE KWAHU EAST DISTRICT, GHANA

Beatrice Benewaa, Felix Oppusu Paapa Agyiri, Stephen Kwabena Asaah-Junior

Abstract


We are in the midst of a worldwide crisis that is killing people, causing human suffering, and putting people's lives at risk. But it is not just a life-threatening condition. It is, without a doubt, a human-societal problem. The COVID epidemic is wreaking havoc on society from the inside. School closures have also resulted in a lack of daycare, which has put a strain on women’s work-life balance and parents required to assist their children's learning at home. This study aimed to investigate the influence of COVID-19 on social interaction in families in Abetifi, Kwahu East District. The study used a qualitative research methodology with an interpretivist viewpoint encapsulated within the inductive epistemological framework. Using purposive and convenience sampling strategies, the researchers chose 15 Abetifi residents as participants to complete the interview schedule. The study discovered that the COVID-19 pandemic had hurt family bonds and social contact. The survey also found that participants followed the safety rules out of concern for their own and loved ones’ lives. It is suggested that regulatory authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Health (M.O.H.), and the Ghana Health Service (G.H.S.) continue to encourage people to follow safety precautions because we do not know when the virus will go away.

 

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Keywords


social interaction, COVID-19 pandemic, social connectedness, stigmatisation, Ebola virus

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.46827/ejsss.v7i3.1243

Copyright (c) 2022 Beatrice Benewaa, Felix Oppusu Paapa Agyiri, Stephen Kwabena Asaah-Junior

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