Assessing the practicality of the COVID-19 social distancing guidelines to the urban poor in the Ghanaian context

Spatial targeting and prediction of factors responsible for optimum Covid-19 based social distancing – the case of Upper west region, Ghana

“…Globally, covid-19 has disrupted various socio-economic aspects of our lives, including crippling the economies of many countries (Ferguson et al, 2020;Appiah-Otoo & Kursah, 2021;Nasiri et al, 2021). The first Covid-19 confirmed case was reported from Wuhan, China around November 2019 (Yeboah et al, 2020). Since its reportage from Wuhan, China, its transmission has been extremely faster due to human-to-human interaction and the greater frequency of physical contact (Richardson et al, 2021).…”

“…Given these recommendations, it has become crucial that social distancing be firmly integrated into public health policies; as we still try to contain the virus. On the bases that the spatial, social and economic circumstances will jointly act to determine the effectiveness of social/physical distancing as appropriate strategy to reducing the spread of the Covid-19 (Durizzo et al, 2021;Morgan, 2020;Yeboah et al, 2020), most places in Ghana including Wa are experiencing implementation difficulties. Though a few number of studies have investigated the practicality of implementing social distancing in urban centres in Africa (Katey et al, 2021;Morgan, 2020;Yeboah et al, 2020), the focus has largely centred on social and economic dimensions with almost none-concentrating on the spatial and physical aspect.…”

“…On the bases that the spatial, social and economic circumstances will jointly act to determine the effectiveness of social/physical distancing as appropriate strategy to reducing the spread of the Covid-19 (Durizzo et al, 2021;Morgan, 2020;Yeboah et al, 2020), most places in Ghana including Wa are experiencing implementation difficulties. Though a few number of studies have investigated the practicality of implementing social distancing in urban centres in Africa (Katey et al, 2021;Morgan, 2020;Yeboah et al, 2020), the focus has largely centred on social and economic dimensions with almost none-concentrating on the spatial and physical aspect. Typically most urban poor live in small parcels of lands -which favours overcrowding and transmission of contagious and communicable diseases (Adelekan, 2010;Baker, 2012;Delhi, 2003).…”

“…Typically most urban poor live in small parcels of lands -which favours overcrowding and transmission of contagious and communicable diseases (Adelekan, 2010;Baker, 2012;Delhi, 2003). Some researchers (Durizzo et al, 2021;Morgan, 2020;Yeboah et al, 2020) argue that the effectiveness of the SD implementation will partly depend on human willingness to abide by the rules set out, and the effectiveness of policies controlling people compliance to the operationalized measures.…”

Assessing willingness to pay for water during the COVID-19 crisis in Ugandan households

“…With the emergence of COVID-19 in China in December 2019 ( Chan et al, 2020 ; Sohrabi, Alsafi, O'Neill et al 2020 ; Yeboah, Takyi, Amponsah et al 2020 ), improving hygiene through handwashing with water and detergent was made a priority globally by the World Health Organization (WHO) ( UNICEF and WHO, 2020 ). Provision of improved water and better hygiene is in line with Goal six of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) ( United Nations Statistical Commission, 2016 ).…”