Market Women’s Perspectives on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): The Case of Ghana and South Africa

Abstract

Globally, countries are still battling health challenges and the negative economic stress on the citizenry caused by COVID-19. This study explored the perspectives of market women in Ghana and South Africa on COVID-19. Data collection was executed in both Ghana and South Africa between March 2021 and December 2021. Employing semi-structured questionnaires, face-to-face interviews were conducted. Most of the market women in Ghana described COVID-19 as a global pandemic, while market women in South Africa described the disease as the deadly flu. There were similarities in the perceived signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Market women in both countries specifically observed that not adhering to the safety protocols was the major mode of transmission. Lemon, garlic and ginger were the most common foodstuffs used by the market women to fight COVID-19. To prevent COVID-19 at their places of work, market women stressed the importance of observing the safety protocols. An overwhelming majority of market women in both countries bemoaned the negative impact of COVID-19 on their businesses and suggested the need for financial assistance from their respective governments. The findings are intended to assist policymakers in both Ghana and South Africa to implement interventional projects to assist women whom the literature suggests are the most vulnerable during pandemics such as COVID-19.

COVID-19 and Urban Food Security in Ghana during the Third Wave

“…Another assessment of the adequacy of pre-pandemic social protection programs and the CAP concluded that the government's response to COVID-19 and the lockdown "was devoid of any organizational framework and thus became a classic case of crisis management" [41]. The lockdown, coupled with the fact that the CAP provided no support for micro-enterprises in the informal sector or those working in formal employment who were laid off, led to business failure and hardship for women market traders [42].…”

Edged beyond thresholds of conventional vulnerabilities: Critical reflections on COVID‐19, women and gender

“…5.3.3 | Gender discrimination and vulnerability in health care, sexual, and reproductive health Access to quality health care is critical during the pandemic, and women and girls are less likely to have it, especially in rural and marginalized communities including the markets. During the pandemic, women in market places were vulnerable to the spread of the virus due to a lack of adequate preventive measures such as face masks, hand sanitizers, and general PPEs (Frimpong et al, 2022). Again, they did not practice social distancing as was well done in the formal sector.…”