Analysis of household responses to shocks and stresses during COVID-19 in Uganda

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic created an unprecedented health and socio-economic crisis that significantly weakened Uganda’s health systems and disrupted household livelihoods. Whereas several studies documented the broader socio-economic effects of the pandemic, limited attention was given to the specific shocks households faced and how they responded. This study examined the types of shocks households in Uganda experienced during COVID-19, the factors influencing shock severity, and the coping strategies adopted. Using secondary data from the Uganda High-Frequency Phone Survey (2020–2022), the analysis covered 14,745 households. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were employed at a 95% confidence level (p < 0.05). The most common shocks experienced included the death or disability of an adult working member, loss of a remittance provider, illness of an income-earning member, and job loss. Households experiencing income loss were 25% more likely to report severe shocks (OR = 1.25, p < 0.01), while those facing job loss had nearly double the odds of severe impact (OR = 1.87, p < 0.001). Exposure to drought (OR = 1.26, p < 0.01) and heavy rains or floods (OR = 1.19, p < 0.05) also significantly heightened vulnerability. Larger households (more than three members) had increased odds of severe shocks (OR = 1.09, p < 0.001). The most significant coping strategies included selling assets (p = 0.045), engaging in additional income-generating activities (p = 0.003), reducing food consumption (p < 0.001), and relying on savings (p < 0.001). These findings underscore the multifaceted shocks households endured during the pandemic and the lasting effects on their resilience. The study recommends establishing national unemployment insurance or emergency cash-assistance schemes particularly for informal workers and adopting job-protection measures such as wage subsidies and small-business support grants to strengthen household resilience during future crises.