Socioecological Stressors During COVID-19 Among Urban Refugee Youth in Kampala, Uganda: A Qualitative Descriptive Analysis

Authors

Sikky Shiqi Chen, University of TorontoFollow
Carmen H. Logie, University of TorontoFollow
Frannie MacKenzie, University of TorontoFollow
Moses Okumu, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignFollow
Robert Hakiza, Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID)Follow
Brenda Katisi, Young African Refugees for Integral Development (YARID)Follow
Daniel Kibuuka Musoke, International Research Consortium (IRC-Kampala)Follow
Aidah Nakitende, International Research Consortium (IRC-Kampala)Follow
Isha Berry, University of TorontoFollow
Bay Bahri, University of TorontoFollow
Peter Kyambadde, Most At Risk Populations Initiative (MARPI)Follow

ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8035-433X

Abstract

Limited studies have examined pandemic-related stressors among urban refugee youth in low and middle-income humanitarian countries (LMICs), such as Uganda. We explored the lived experience of COVID-19-related stressors among urban refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda. We analyzed qualitative data (text messages, WhatsApp chats, photos) collected in an interactive mobile health intervention with 346 refugee youth aged 16–24 in Kampala. Findings revealed stressors across socioecological levels: individual (e.g., financial-related distress), social (e.g., limited social interactions), community (e.g., food insecurity), and policy (e.g., unprecedented lockdowns). Findings can inform social work organization pandemic preparedness strategies for economic empowerment and social cohesion with youth.