Abstract
Aim: COVID-19, which can be considered a disastrous event, has created not only a public health emergency but also a major socio-economic crisis in Bangladesh. This study, therefore, aimed to assess households’ socioeconomic vulnerability due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was performed among 404 households from different districts in Bangladesh. The socioeconomic vulnerability index (SeVI) was developed using data collected from participants via an online-based self-reported questionnaire that included demographic, social, economic, and physical characteristics as well as exposure to COVID-19. Results: The socioeconomic vulnerability index (SeVI) was calculated as an index score of 0.405 where social, economic, and COVID-19 exposure were reported to be the more impactful components of adaptive capacity, sensitivity, and exposure, respectively. Furthermore, the economic options for households were greatly limited by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Practical implications: This study may help to identify the socioeconomic issues that resulted from the COVID-19 outbreak in the country and instruct the policymakers and corresponding authorities on which areas to emphasize for policy implementation so that households become socially and economically less susceptible to the COVID-19 outbreak as well as related infectious diseases and disastrous events in the upcoming years. Conclusion: This study found socioeconomic vulnerability among Bangladeshi households. The corresponding authorities should adopt policy initiatives to minimize the socioeconomic vulnerability due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country.
Highlights
The novel coronavirus outbreak in 2019, called the COVID-19 pandemic, is a world health crisis that has led to an unparalleled human life and livelihood disaster, disrupted economic processes across industries, stopped public transport networks, and limited global social interactions [1]
This study aimed to develop the socioeconomic vulnerability index for Bangladesh
The findings of our study indicated that the socioeconomic vulnerability index (SeVI) was a manageable and viable technique that captured the vulnerability situation of Bangladeshi households
Summary
The novel coronavirus outbreak in 2019, called the COVID-19 pandemic, is a world health crisis that has led to an unparalleled human life and livelihood disaster, disrupted economic processes across industries, stopped public transport networks, and limited global social interactions [1]. In order to combat the spread of COVID-19 disease, the government declared a general holiday from March 26, 2020 through the first wave. With the exception of essential services, all government and non-government institutions have been closed since the lockdown began [6]. Nine months later, the government was again forced to announce a lockdown on April 5, 2021 due to the second wave of the COVID19 outbreak and further imposed a week-long strict lockdown from April 14, 2021 due to a high increase in confirmed cases and deaths [8, 9]. All the government and non-government institutions, as well as public transport, were again closed throughout the country, apart from emergency services. All schools, colleges, and universities have remained closed since March 18, 2020, and have extended this closure till May 23, 2021 [10]
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