Ndlovu Lindiwe, Mudonhi Nicholas, Sibanda Nomathemba, Nunu Wilfred Njabulo, Manyeruke Norman
Department of Environmental Science and Health, Faculty of Environmental Science, National University of Science and Technology, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.
Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
Health Serv Insights. 2024 Aug 27;17:11786329241274484. doi: 10.1177/11786329241274484. eCollection 2024.
Persons with disabilities are the most affected by rising pandemics worldwide. COVID-19 has affected people with disabilities in many areas of their lives; however, its impact has been overlooked. This study aimed to assess the effects of COVID-19 on people with disabilities in Plumtree, Zimbabwe, to develop a disability-inclusive approach in response to COVID-19.
A concurrent mixed-methods approach was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data from 7 key informants and ninety-two participants with disabilities, from January to May 2023. Quantitative data were analysed using STATA software version 12 and Microsoft Excel. Multiple Logistic Regression, Chi-square test, and paired-sample test were used to test for associations among COVID-19 cases, source of income, key challenges, and demographic characteristics. Qualitative data were analysed and presented in the form of themes.
We recruited more females (56.5%) than males with disabilities, and more than half were unemployed (56.5%). In contrast, only 3.3% of the respondents were formally employed. The results also indicated a significant relationship between age and COVID-19 positivity ( = .025). The results also indicated that efforts were being made by government and non-governmental departments to assist people with disabilities during the pandemic through finance, food, awareness campaigns, and social support.
Restriction measures put in place disturbed the livelihood of people with disabilities in Plumtree. Therefore, entrepreneurship programmes targeting vulnerable groups, including people with disabilities, should be introduced to ensure that their sources of income are sustained despite emergencies or pandemics.
残疾人是全球范围内流行病肆虐的最大受害者。新冠疫情在生活的许多方面影响了残疾人；然而，其影响却被忽视了。本研究旨在评估新冠疫情对津巴布韦普拉姆特里残疾人的影响，以制定应对新冠疫情的包容性残疾应对方法。
采用同步混合方法，于2023年1月至5月从7名关键信息提供者和92名残疾参与者中收集定性和定量数据。定量数据使用STATA软件12版和Microsoft Excel进行分析。使用多元逻辑回归、卡方检验和配对样本检验来检验新冠病例、收入来源、关键挑战和人口特征之间的关联。定性数据进行分析并以主题形式呈现。
我们招募的残疾女性（56.5%）多于男性，超过半数失业（56.5%）。相比之下，只有3.3%的受访者有正式工作。结果还表明年龄与新冠阳性之间存在显著关系（=0.025）。结果还表明，政府和非政府部门在疫情期间通过资金、食品、宣传活动和社会支持等方式努力帮助残疾人。
实施的限制措施扰乱了普拉姆特里残疾人的生计。因此，应推出针对包括残疾人在内的弱势群体的创业项目，以确保他们的收入来源在紧急情况或疫情期间得以维持。
