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Unemployment in women with psychosocial disabilities during the COVID‐19 pandemic: Lessons from Tana River County, Kenya
Author(s) -
Ebuenyi Ikenna D.,
Gitonga Isaiah,
Tele Albert,
Syurina Elena V.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of international development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.533
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1099-1328
pISSN - 0954-1748
DOI - 10.1002/jid.3638
Subject(s) - psychosocial , pandemic , unemployment , empowerment , welfare , context (archaeology) , inclusion (mineral) , government (linguistics) , economic growth , work (physics) , informal sector , poverty , psychology , income support , social protection , covid-19 , political science , economics , medicine , social psychology , geography , psychiatry , mechanical engineering , linguistics , philosophy , disease , archaeology , engineering , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , law
Abstract In low‐income settings, the informal economy is a practical alternative to work and employment for persons with disabilities. However, the COVID‐19 pandemic negatively affected the informal economy. This study aimed to explore the experiences of women with psychosocial disabilities in Kenya during the pandemic. We found that the pandemic worsened their experiences of work and employment, and they did not receive any social welfare or support from the government. Our findings suggest that pandemic management must adopt inclusive and context‐sensitive approaches that support persons with psychosocial disabilities. Social welfare and protection for persons with disabilities are relevant for socio‐economic empowerment and inclusion.