POST COVID-19 RECOVERY AND COPING METHODS AMONG RESIDENTS IN EDO STATE

Abstract

Post covid-19 survival has remained fervent in the heart of state actors and non-state actors, academics, policy makers and business professionals. This is informed by havocs wrecked by the pandemic at both micro and macroeconomic sphere. While it is true that nations of developed world have recovered fast and recorded double digits growth, Africa has shown slow pace of recovery. Citizens in the latter have continued to experience downward fall in quality of life and household malnutrition due to havocs of economic woes imposed by covid-19. Nigeria is not exception in the woes. This study therefore examined household recovery in post covid-19 lockdown and coping methods. The study adopted descriptive quantitative survey. Sample size was 398, determine using Yamane statistically method of sampling. Study population consisted of household in semi urban area of Okada in Edo state. Data were collected and analysed quantitatively using descriptive and inferential statistics. Mean age of participants was 38.9 and consisted of 55.5 % males in the study. More than three quarter sample population had slow pace adjustment in post lockdown, more than half participants reported job loss, financial stagnancy to keep up small businesses, poor household income and malnutrition. Three quarter sample participants were self employed and relied on business income or contractor service. Coping methods consisted of family support, quarantine and isolation from crowd and deliberate removal from public service. Household income tremendously shrank due to poor public fear of covid-19 which affected small scale occupation and self driven income. It is recommended that welfare intervention should be intensified to recalibrate occupation and rejig household in the post lockdown.