Effects of Covid-19 Pandemic Containment Measures on Social Interactions within Families in Kiambu County Kenya
Loading...
Date
2024-10-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Reviewed Journal of Social Science & Humanities
Abstract
This study assessed the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on social interactions within families in Ruiru SubCounty, Kiambu County. The specific study objectives were to examine effects of COVID-19 on social
interactions between parents and their children, siblings to siblings, spouses to spouses and suggested
mitigation strategies to challenges posed by COVID-19 on family life and social interactions. The study was
guided by two theories: family system theory and social impact theory. The study employed mixed research
design, which allowed quantitative and qualitative data to be collected. The study target population was
58,264 households in Ruiru Sub-County. Yamane (1967) formula was used to determine a sample of 396
households for the study. The study participants were selected from the study area using simple random
sampling. The study also involved 10 key informants who were 6 social workers and 4 chiefs. Semi-structured
questionnaires were used to collect primary data. Quantitative data was collected and analyzed using
descriptive statistics and presented by frequency tables using Microsoft Excel while qualitative data was
analyzed through narrative analysis and presented through narrations. Study findings showed that
containment measures due to COVID-19 pandemic ensured families spent more time together than it was
usual affected social interaction in families between parents and their children and between spouses.
However, the social interaction in families between siblings was not affected by the containment measures due
to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study found that the containment measures negatively impacted social
interactions between parents and children and between spouses will benefit policy makers and social
practitioners in preparing and responding to pandemics of similar magnitude in case they happen in future to
prevent family break-down. The study recommended that the government and other players carry out a
critical assessment and measurement of marital, parent-to-child and sibling-to-sibling interactions to inform
future policy formulation regarding social interaction in families. The study also recommended that the
government establishes intervention measures such as family counseling services that address interaction
issues within families in Ruiru sub-County
Description
Article
Keywords
Citation
Karinga, E. N., Mwangi, S., & Owino, G. E. (2024). Effects of Covid-19 pandemic containment measures on social interactions within families in Kiambu County Kenya. Reviewed Journal of Social Science & Humanities, 5 (1), 419 – 438.