One in Five Street Traditional Coffee Vendors Suffered from Depression During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Harar Town, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background:The COVID-19 crisis has already resulted in an economic and labor market shock and a rise of informal work sectors. Being an informal job, traditional coffee vending can predispose women to a myriad of mental disorders. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess depressive symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors among street traditional coffee vendors in Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was employed on 180 women engaged in street traditional coffee vending business in Harar town. Data were collected through a face-to-face interview using a Public Health Questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Binary logistic regression was executed to identify factors associated with depression at a cut-off point of P < 0.05. Results:The mean age of the study participants was 31.83 (±10) years. The majority of the participants were currently married (n = 77, 42.8%), attended primary education (n = 68, 37.8%), had a family member of four or more (n = 60, 33.3%), and had two years or less work experience (n = 123, 68.3%). Most of the study participants obtained COVID-19-related information from television (n = 125, 69.4%). The prevalence of depression was found to be 18.9%. Attending primary education (AOR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.12, 0.98), attending secondary education or higher (AOR: 0.23; 95% CI: 0.07, 0.69), and having four or more family members (AOR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.14, 6.92) were significantly associated with depression. Conclusion:One in five street traditional coffee vendors suffered from depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lower odds of being depressed were observed in those who attended a minimum of primary education. On the contrary, having a greater family size was associated with higher odds of being depressed. This finding will direct the government and other concerned bodies to be involved in the provision of psychological and material support for such informal workers during COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic and the livelihood of a vulnerable population: Evidence from women street vendors in urban Vietnam

“…During social distancing, some cities have allowed street vendors—especially those selling fresh fruits and vegetables—to operate; however, most developing cities did not allow street vendors to work ( Chen, 2020 ; Guha et al, 2021 ; Lemessa et al, 2021 ; Sisay et al, 2021 ; Toriro & Chirisa, 2021 ). In urban Vietnam, the vendors were also required to suspend their businesses during social distancing ( Thanh et al, 2021 ; Turner et al, 2021 ).…”

“…First, these vendors experienced a reduction in purchasing power since their customers suffered from income shock, limited going out, and/or fear of infection from direct human contact ( Kiaka et al, 2021 ; Nasution et al, 2021 ; Thanh et al, 2021 ). Second, vendors might have been restricted or prohibited from doing business ( Chen, 2020 ; Guha et al, 2021 ; Gupte & Mitlin, 2021 ; Sisay et al, 2021 ; Toriro & Chirisa, 2021 ; Wegerif, 2020 ). For example, public places where vendors sold their goods were shut down, resulting in few or no customers ( Nasution et al, 2021 ; Turner et al, 2021 ).…”

“…During a crisis, street vendors could adopt various coping strategies to sustain their businesses, such as changing their products, services, or sales areas to reach new markets, or adopting modern sales methods and home delivery ( Boonjubun, 2017 ; Coletto et al, 2021 ; Kiaka et al, 2021 ; Maneepong & Walsh, 2013 ; Nasution et al, 2021 ). In addition, the nature of their informality has made some vendors less likely to (frequently) follow social distancing measures, but they have used informal and often subtle tactics to navigate the surveillance of the local authorities and resist them in order to continue their businesses ( Romero-Michel et al, 2021 ; Sisay et al, 2021 ; Thanh et al, 2021 ; Turner et al, 2021 ). For instance, in the Global South, vendors might work around local authorities' policing timetables and seek help from local residents to hide their goods during normal times and in crisis, with some playing “cat and mouse” or “hide and seek” with local authorities ( Boonjubun, 2017 ; Kiaka et al, 2021 ; Lata et al, 2019 ; Thai et al, 2021 ; Turner et al, 2021 ).…”

“…Also, they are highly vulnerable to socioeconomic crises ( Balbuena & Skinner, 2020 ; Thanh et al, 2021 ). Additionally, since women vendors face educational and financial constraints ( Pearce et al, 1988 ; Sisay et al, 2021 ), they tend to experience more adverse consequences and have fewer coping mechanisms during crises than male vendors ( Cohen, 2010 ; Horn, 2010 ).…”

“…To curb the pandemic, many countries have adopted social distancing or lockdown measures, which socioeconomically disrupt all economic sectors, including the informal sector ( Chen, 2020 ; Laing, 2020 ; Rakshit & Basistha, 2020 ). Such disruptions have caused an economic burden for the street vendors, who lack sufficient skills, resources, coping strategies, and mitigation mechanisms ( Balbuena & Skinner, 2020 ; Lemessa et al, 2021 ; Mustafa et al, 2021 ; Resnick, 2020 ; Sisay et al, 2021 ; Thai et al, 2021 ; Turner et al, 2021 ).…”