Abstract

To understand the impact of the COVID-19 public health response on families of children with disabilities in Central Uganda we conducted phone interviews with parents and children during the first 5 months of the outbreak (March - July 2020). Most parents and children were well informed about COVID-19 and were keen to adhere to government prevention measures. The majority said lock-down measures had a negative effect on their mental and physical health, social life, finances, education and food security. Access to medical services and medication for chronic illness had been limited or absent due to restrictions in travel, some facilities restricting access, and limited financial resources. The majority of parents reported loss of work which resulted in difficulties in finding enough food and paying rent. Parents worried about children missing education and friends. We suggest greater attention to children with disabilities and their families when implementing mitigating and long-term responses.

• Points of interest

• This paper reports a study with families of children with disabilities in Uganda during the Coronavirus pandemic in 2020, known as COVID-19.

• Families of children with disabilities in Uganda are well informed about COVID-19 and try to follow prevention measures.

• Families of children with disabilities have difficulties meeting daily basic needs as they were unable to work and had no income during the COVID-19 related lock down.

• The COVID-19 response affects access to health and rehabilitation services for children with disabilities in Uganda.

• Parents of children with disabilities struggle with home education and learning due to lack of access to accessible learning materials and learning support in Uganda.

• The COVID-19 response affects the peer support networks and social support for parents of children with disabilities in Uganda.

• Children with disabilities and their families should be involved and considered in the development and implementation of the COVID-19 response.

摘要

为了了解 COVID-19 公共卫生应对措施对乌干达中部残疾儿童家庭的影响，我们在疫情爆发的前 5 个月（2020 年 3 月至 2020 年 7 月）对家长和儿童进行了电话采访。大多数父母和孩子都非常了解 COVID-19，并热衷于遵守政府的预防措施。大多数人表示，封锁措施对他们的身心健康、社会生活、财务、教育和粮食安全产生了负面影响。由于旅行限制、一些设施限制访问以及财政资源有限，获得慢性病医疗服务和药物的机会受到限制或无法获得。大多数父母报告失去工作，导致难以找到足够的食物和支付房租。父母担心孩子失去教育和朋友。我们建议在实施缓解和长期应对措施时更加关注残疾儿童及其家人。

• 兴趣点

• 本文报道了一项在 2020 年冠状病毒大流行期间对乌干达残疾儿童家庭的研究，即 COVID-19。

• 乌干达的残疾儿童家庭充分了解 COVID-19 并尝试采取预防措施。

• 残疾儿童的家庭难以满足日常基本需求，因为他们在 COVID-19 相关封锁期间无法工作并且没有收入。

• COVID-19 应对措施影响了乌干达残疾儿童获得健康和康复服务的机会。

• 由于乌干达缺乏无障碍学习材料和学习支持，残疾儿童的父母在家庭教育和学习方面遇到困难。

• COVID-19 应对措施影响了乌干达残疾儿童父母的同伴支持网络和社会支持。

• 残疾儿童及其家人应参与并考虑制定和实施 COVID-19 应对措施。