Impact of COVID-19 Guidelines on Families: Ecological Systems Analysis of Kisii County, Kenya

Abstract

COVID-19 has claimed many lives since its emergency in late 2019. The World Health Organisation made
recommendations to contain the pandemic such as closure of schools to social distance, working from home, and wearing a mask in crowded areas. The purpose of this paper is to apply the Ecological Systems Theory
(EST) to determine how the COVID-19 containment measures have impacted Kenyan families. The study utilized a qualitative design. The sample consisted of twenty-two (22) participants chosen through convenience sampling strategy. Half the sample were male and females each representing the eleven 11 constituencies of the county. This study is important for policy interventions especially for cushioning families in any future pandemics. Study results indicate that COVID-19 impacted families in various ways. For example, the prolonged stay at home disrupted schooling, increased family expenditures and teenage pregnancies. The study concludes that school closure due to COVID-19 is the single most disruptive aspect of the COVID-19 prevention guidelines. While economic and social implications of the preventive policies, the study underscores the importance of considering family stability as equally important in policy.