Growing up under corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the impacts on children’s socialization in Jimma City, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

This study aimed at exploring the impacts of corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on children’s socialization in Jimma City, Ethiopia.  A qualitative-phenomenology research design was employed with asynchronous email interview for data collection purpose. The study participants were children’s parents via email interview due to COVID-19 social distancing requirements. Non-probability sampling technique specifically purposive sampling technique was employed for identifying research participants. Thematic analysis was employed for analysing classifications and explaining themes relating to the data. The values of privacy, informed consent, confidentiality and anonymity were considered in this study. The finding of this study revealed that the emerging of COVID-19 pandemic affect children’s socialization in positive and negative manner. Poor language skills, limited in learning societal value, obesity, limited socialization opportunities, addicted to films and games, loss of appetite, homesick/nostalgic, quarrel with siblings, create noises and disturbing the family are the negative impacts of COVID-19 on children’s socialization. As positive impacts, developed intimacy between families, personal hygiene, protected from communicable diseases, learn domestic activities and develop their creative skill. Finally, the study recommends that families should take great responsibility in following their children’s behavior and deal with changes related with the pandemic. Encouraging them to read stories, fables, reading text books, physical exercises and encouraging them to engage in domestic activities which are not beyond their capacity are some of the strategies.