Solidarity and social behaviour: how did this help communities to manage COVID-19 pandemic?

Igwe, Paul Agu and Ochinanwata, Chinedu and Ochinanwata, Nonso and Adeyeye, Olufemi J. and Ikpor, Isaac Monday and Nwakpu, Sanita Ekwutosi and Egbo, Obiamaka P. and Onyishi, Ike E. and Vincent, Olusegun and Nwekpa, Kenneth Chukwuma and Nwakpu, Kingsley Onuoha and Adeoye, Ayodeji Adeyinka and Odika, Precious Onyinyechi and Fakah, Henrietta and Ogunnaike, O.O. and Umemezia, Evelyn Iyose (2020) Solidarity and social behaviour: how did this help communities to manage COVID-19 pandemic? International Journal of Sociology and Social Policy, 4 (9/10). pp. 1183-1200.

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Abstract

Purpose – During the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic lockdowns, stay at home or work from home, many have argued that the westernised non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) do not provide remedial in lowincome countries like Nigeria, where informal job seekers, street traders, informal labourers and artisans depend mainly on the informal economy. By applying social solidarity (SS) and community-based approach (CBA), the authors evaluate individual acts (trust, altruism and reciprocity) during the lockdown and how these practices evolve from individual approaches to collective actions. Design/methodology/approach – This study reflects on pragmatism research paradigm that enables researchers to maintain both subjectivity in their reflections and objectivity in data collection and analysis. The authors adopt a qualitative method through purposeful and convenience sampling procedure. Data were analysed thematically to identify elements of SS, individual acts, collective or community actions and perceptions. Findings – The findings reveal that COVID-19 had a disproportionate impact (lack of food and a fall in daily income) on workers, informal job seekers, informal businesses operators and the poor households. As such, the study developed a reflective model of solidarity exhibited by individual acts and collective acts (practices of resource pooling, information sharing, women empowerment, distribution of palliatives and donations) within trusted circles that helped people cope with the lockdown experiences. Practical implications – Solidarity represents beliefs, practices of values and norms. The SS exhibited by people through NPI would have implications on planning and monitoring the effectiveness of public health programmes during a pandemic in the future. Social implications – The findings of citizens and community actions have implications related to the process of building communities – coming together – and solidarity that enhances social development with implications on community health policy agenda during disasters, emergencies and health pandemic. Originality/value – This is one of the first studies to analyse the relationship between trust, altruism, reciprocity, SS and CBA during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, it seems reasonable to clarify the concept of SS given the lack of clarity about the definitions from previous studies.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Social solidarity, Community-based approach, Community health, COVID-19, Nigeria Paper type Research paper
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HG Finance
Divisions:	Faculty of Law, Arts and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
Depositing User:	Mrs Patricia Nwokealisi
Date Deposited:	13 Dec 2021 11:43
Last Modified:	13 Dec 2021 11:43
URI:	http://eprints.covenantuniversity.edu.ng/id/eprint/15535

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