Efficacy of community-based response strategies in reducing COVID-19 transmission in Kisumu East Sub County, Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the world, especially at the community level. It has not only affected the way community members interact, but also how they relate.
Objectives: To examine the role of community awareness in reducing the transmission of COVID-19; to investigate the effect of the engagement of Community Health Workers on the reduction of the transmission of COVID-19 positive cases; to examine the role of government restrictions in reducing COVID19 transmissions among the communities living and to analyse the measures put in place to address challenges facing the community-based responses in addressing COVID-19 transmission in Kisumu East Sub County.
Methodology: The study adopted Descriptive Case Study Design. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and interviews. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS. Qualitative data was collected from the interviews and was analysed using the thematic content analysis technique.
Findings: The study established that community awareness played a great role in reducing transmissions of COVID-19. It also established that the measures that the government put in place to reduce community transmissions were to a large extent successful. Lastly, the study established that the government stepped up measures to address the challenges of COVID-19 and these measures included screening and vaccinations.
Recommendations: It recommends that the government puts emphasis on community-based response strategies when it comes to health interventions. It is expected that the findings of the study will be of benefit to policy makers, health planners as well as scholars in Development Studies