Factors Associated With Adherence to Lockdown Measures in Uganda

Abstract Background While the debate regarding the usefulness of the lockdown goes on in research, it has been highlighted that this debate is pointless unless studies demonstrate to what extent people are actually abiding by the lockdown. Studies on factors associated with adherence of COVID-19-related lockdowns have largely been conducted in western countries. However, similar studies are still lacking in low income countries like Uganda. This study fills this gap by investigating factors associated with adherence to lockdown in Uganda. Methods A qualitative cross sectional survey was conducted online via the AfriSight platform with a sample size of 1249. These participants were selected randomly from all across Uganda. The data was analyzed descriptively and for inferential statistics we analyzed the data using probit regression. This allowed us to investigate the various motivations, socioeconomic, and demographic factors that help predict adherence or lack thereof to lockdown measures. Based on this probit analysis, we further generated marginal effects to ascertain the probabilities of adhering to lockdown. Results Our study reports the complexity that characterizes adherence to the lockdown in Uganda. Various socioeconomic and demographic factors particularly, age, gender, size of household, religion, income level, and employment status all seem to uniquely interact in shaping adherence behavior. Conclusion This study demonstrates that any lockdown-related efforts to minimize the spread of COVID-19 must pay attention to how these factors playout in the context of Uganda. Whereas most of the factors observed can more easily be handled in wealthier countries which provide social benefits during lockdowns, Uganda must rethink the uncritical adoption of such measures without localizing them. There is a need for Uganda to invest in a COVID-19 response that is alive to local context and reality, and one which commands wide support and adherence.