Effects of Covid-19 Lockdown Measures on the Food Security Status of Sex Workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2021-11
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a new coronavirus that presents pneumonia-like
symptoms. Beyond immediate health concerns, COVID-19 has both direct and indirect impacts on
food security. The government of Ethiopia took several measures including lockdown to reduce
the impacts of the pandemic. Most severely affected by the movement cessations are the urban
poor. Sex workers represent an important group that exemplifies the vulnerability of workers in
the informal labor sector. The main purpose of this study is to explore the assess COVID-19
lockdown measures on the food security statuses of sex workers in Bole and Akaki Kaliti sub city
of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. This research employed cross-sectional mixed research design and used
purposive and snowball sampling technique. The study used HFIAS, FCS and CSI to analyze the
food security status of households. The result shows that 94.4% of the respondents have family
under their support, 74.4% of them have children and 96.7% of the respondent have no partner.
Purchasing food, supporting family, home rent and addiction make up most of their expenses. In
addition, 57.8% of them have saving practices and only 20% of them participate in mutual –aid
and social networking activities (5.6% Iddir and 14.4% Equb). The HFIAS result showed that
98.1% of the study households are food insecure, whereas, the FCS indicated 87.8% of them are
poor and borderline food consumption. The study implied that COVID-19 and its lockdown
measures were highly affected the livelihood and food security statuses of the sex workers and
their family. The study recommended the need to assess sex workers capacity and based on the
assessment prepare entrepreneurship training and activities; create strong and organized sex
workers unions in order for them to have a strong voice in society; create new saving option for
them with better interest and giving them credit according to their savings
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Keywords
COVID-19, lockdown measures, food security, sex worker, informal labor sectors, Addis Ababa