COVID-19 related community lockdowns in two low-income communities in Jamaica

Abstract

Objective: Community quarantine has been one of the public health management strategies used to control the spread of COVID-19 in Jamaica. This paper sought to understand COVID-19 related community lockdown experiences reported by residents in two communities in Jamaica. Methods: Forty-three in-depth interviews were completed in two communities that experienced COVID-related ‘community lock-down’. Using qualitative content analysis, themes and subthemes were identified and further categorized as pros and cons. Excerpts from the voices of participants were then utilized to further illuminate their feelings and experiences. Results: Females constituted the majority (53%) of participants and the mean age of participants was 44.1 years (SD =20). ‘Pros’ and ‘Cons’ as broad categories embodied nuances held by participants about their lockdown experiences. ‘Time to Bond’, Attention to Social Needs’ and ‘Staying Informed’ emerged as ‘Pro’ themes, while ‘Communication Pains’, ‘Nuff Discrimination [a lot of discrimination]’ and ‘Unmet Needs’ were the ‘Con’ themes emerging from participants’ experiences. Conclusion: The study highlights important issues related to communities and their lockdown experiences and the relevance of these to health promotion efforts. Heightened interest in health related information and education are opportunities for increased health promotion. Implementation of community lockdowns should not be an ad hoc process, but one with forethought, taking into account communication, social realities, political dynamics and health promotion.

Keywords

• covid-19
• community quarantine
• lockdown
• social reality
• jamaica