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Psychological and Livelihood Impacts of Covid-19 on Bangladeshi Lower Income People

Alak Paul PhD
University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Tapan Kumar Nath PhD
Nottingham University Malaysia Campus, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia

Janardan Mahanta MSc
University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Naznin Nahar Sultana MSc
University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh

A. S. M. Imrul Kayes MSc
Unnayan Prochesta, Tala, Satkhira, Bangladesh

Sharifa Jahan Noon BSc
University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Md. Akib Jabed, MD, MSc
University of Chittagong, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Sumana Podder MBA
Premier University, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Sujat Paul, FCPS
Chittagong Medical College, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The objective of this research is to understand the psychological and livelihood-related impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on Bangladeshi lower income group people who depend on daily earnings for their living. Following the convenience sampling method, 576 respondents were interviewed for quantitative data and 30 in-depth interviews for qualitative information in several districts of Bangladesh. To 94.1% of respondents, livelihood has been affected by the COVID-19 outbreak with an overall score of 3.20 ± 0.77 on a 4-point Likert-type scale. In comparison to unemployed respondents, daily workers have been hardly affected by the COVID-19 outbreak (odds ratio [OR] = 7.957; P < .01), and so they are going outside more frequently in search of jobs (OR = 9.984, P < .01). Due to fear of COVID-19 infection and lack of livelihood means, respondents (76.6%) have been stressed out (overall score 3.19 ± 0.81 on a 4-point Likert-type scale), and those working in industries (OR = 5.818, P < .01), farmers (OR = 3.029, P < .05), and day laborers (OR = 2.651, P < .05) have been highly stressed.

Keywords: COVID-19, Mental stress, Livelihood impact, Lower income people, Bangladesh

Location: In Bangladesh

Start Date:

End Date:

Program Area: Risk Management in Agriculture

Commodity: Poverty, Pandemic, COVID-19

Objectives:

To undertake measures for the well-being of a lower-income group of people in this pandemic.

Methodology:

Sample Population and Data Collection: This study was conducted across Bangladesh targeting a lower income group of people (mostly daily income earners) in suburban areas. Because these fractions of people usually have limited access to the Internet, we opted to conduct physical interviews maintaining at least 2 m distance. We followed convenience sampling to select respondents because this is the most common nonprobability sampling strategy where respondents are selected in an ad hoc fashion based on their accessibility. We employed a number of field assistants for data collection and briefed them about interview protocol (e.g. safe distancing, wearing masks, etc). This study used both quantitative and qualitative approaches for the primary data collection. For quantitative data collection, we used a pretested structured questionnaire having 13 questions divided into three parts—(1) sociodemographic information of the respondents (gender, age, education, and occupation), (2) psychological (stress, level of stress, and panic), and (3) livelihood impact (going outside for job, receiving relief and frequency, help from others, impacts on livelihood, and level of impact). Instead of income, we used occupation as a proxy to identify lower income people because people may not disclose their income data. For assessing the level of stress and level of livelihood impact, we have applied a 4-point Likert-type scale (1 = little, 2 = moderate, 3 = high, and 4 = extreme). The questionnaire was prepared in English and then translated into Bangla, the national language of Bangladesh. We approached respon dents randomly and those who (18 years and over) agreed were interviewed. We briefly described the aims of the research to the selected respondents and their verbal consent was noted. The response rate was approximately 75%. On an average, each interview took about 15 minutes. Interviews were held at road sides, premises of small bazars, agri-farms, and tea stalls. A total of 576 respondents were interviewed in several districts of the country from March 30, 2020, to May 17, 2020. A sample size of 576 was found satisfactory at 95% confidence level and ±5% margin of error.20 We conducted 30 in-depth interviews randomly chosen from aforementioned samples for qualitative data gathering. A checklist consisting of a few open-ended questions was prepared to facilitate the interviews. The questions were related to the mental stress and the livelihoods of the respondents. The ethical review committee of Chittagong Medical College, Bangladesh, approved this research (Memo No. CMC/ PG/2020/96). Data Analysis: In analyzing data, descriptive statistics (frequency and percentage) of responses were estimated. Scores of the level of livelihood impact and level of stress were the means of a 4-point Likert-type scale used. The mean difference between/ among the categories of different sociodemographic characteristics with scores of the level livelihood and anxiety were compared with independent samples t-test and one-way analysis of variance/F test. Besides, associations between different attributes of livelihood and anxiety with different sociodemographic characteristics were shown using the χ² test. Furthermore, logistic regressions were run taking significant predictors in the χ² test. Variables with more than 2 classes have been grouped into 2 categories for regressions. Contrarily, qualitative data were described using respondents’ narratives.

Source of Information: Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health; 2021, Vol. 33(1) 100–108

Article Link (Online Journal): DOI: 10.1177/1010539520977304

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought huge socioeconomic and psychological suffering in human life all over the world. Even though all groups of people in society have been affected, the lower-income people have become more vulnerable. In developing countries, where the majority of the people depend on their daily income, the COVID-19 outbreak has threatened their subsistence. The absence of livelihood means, fear of getting infected by coronavirus, and insufficient government assistance has made their livelihood vulnerable and life stressful. In order to contain the coronavirus transmission, the public movement needs to be controlled, which requires measures such as lockdown, isolation, and social distancing. For effective implementation of these measures in a densely populated country like Bangladesh, underprivileged people should be provided with essential government assistance during a particular period. Otherwise, disease transmission would prolong and this might have a long-term impact on the country. This research was an initiative to quickly discern the impact of COVID-19 on the psychological condition and livelihood of lower-income people in Bangladesh. This research had some limitations. First, it interviewed only 576 people in several districts of Bangladesh. So, it may not be reasonable to generalize the results in the whole country. Further studies can be conducted with more participants distributed throughout the country. Second, we considered only a limited number of variables to understand the impact. However, future studies can accommodate more variables of psychological and livelihood impact so that a general scenario of the impact can be produced extensively.

Knowledge Management: Journal