EFFECTS OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC CONTAINMENT MEASURES ON SOCIAL INTERACTIONS WITHIN FAMILIES IN KIAMBU COUNTY KENYA

ESTHER NYAGATURI KARINGA; SAMUEL MWANGI; GEORGE EVANS OWINO

doi:10.61426/rjssh.v5i1.246

ESTHER NYAGATURI KARINGA Master of Arts (Sociology) Student, Department of Sociology, Gender, and Development Studies, School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, Kenyatta University, Kenya
SAMUEL MWANGI, PhD Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Gender, and Development Studies, Kenyatta, University, Kenya
GEORGE EVANS OWINO, PhD Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Gender, and Development Studies, Kenyatta, University, Kenya

DOI: https://doi.org/10.61426/rjssh.v5i1.246

Keywords: Pandemic, COVID19, Interventions

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on social interactions within families in Ruiru Sub-County, 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. 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.

Author Biographies

ESTHER NYAGATURI KARINGA, Master of Arts (Sociology) Student, Department of Sociology, Gender, and Development Studies, School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, Kenyatta University, Kenya

Master of Arts (Sociology) Student, Department of Sociology, Gender, and Development Studies, School of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, Kenyatta University, Kenya

SAMUEL MWANGI, PhD, Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Gender, and Development Studies, Kenyatta, University, Kenya

Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Gender, and Development Studies, Kenyatta, University, Kenya

GEORGE EVANS OWINO, PhD, Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Gender, and Development Studies, Kenyatta, University, Kenya

Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Gender, and Development Studies, Kenyatta, University, Kenya

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