Household Vulnerability and Coping Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic in Bamako, Mali: Assessing Sociodemographic Factors Associated with Household Hardships

BackgroundCOVID-19 resulted in vast disruption to life in the 21st century as governments implemented containment measures to quell disease spread. We assessed knowledge of local interventions and household coping strategies used to attenuate the impact of household hardships. We further examined associations between household and community characteristics with household hardships. MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional household survey between August and September 2022 through a retrospective questionnaire fielded in the Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) operating in Bamako, Mali. Logistic regression was used to analyze associations between household characteristics, government interventions, and household hardships during the pandemic. ResultsThe most commonly reported hardships were increases in food prices and food insecurity; roughly 18% of households reported experiencing at least 1 hardship. Common coping strategies included asking for help from family or friends (55.6%). Only 2.8% of households reported seeking government assistance. Households headed by younger individuals, males, and unemployed individuals were at greater risk of experiencing hardships. Government closure of businesses was strongly associated with household hardships. ConclusionsHouseholds in the Bamako HDSS experienced a variety of hardships during the pandemic-- the most prevalent hardships were increases in local food prices and food insecurity. The association between government closure of businesses and household hardships points to the need for balancing public health measures with socioeconomic considerations. Households headed by individuals with lower education and/or unemployed were at greater risk of experiencing a hardship. Future policies and interventions should target aid to households reflecting these characteristics.