EFFECTS OF COVID-19 AND INSECURITY ON WOMEN’S PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT IN IKWUANO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ABIA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

In Nigeria, the philosophy of women participation in community development is increasingly gaining traction as an important instrument for mobilizing resources and organizing women to pick adequate interest in providing social and economic dividends to their community at large. This study therefore examines the effect of COVID-19 on Women August Congregation’s (WAC) participation in community development in Ikwuano Local Government Area, Abia State, Nigeria. Descriptive research survey was adopted. A sample of 384 eligible households participated in the study. The questionnaire and in-depth interview methods were employed to collect data from the respondents. Quantitative data was presented in tables, frequencies, and percentages, while qualitative data were analyzed via the manual content method. The study adopted the structural functionalist theory as theoretical framework for its analysis. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Hypotheses were tested using the Pearson Moment Correlation tool at 0.05 significant level. The study revealed that Covid-19 pandemic and its protocols cum insecurity prevented women in Ikwuano from holding their annual gathering, which adversely affected their participation and contribution to community development. It is therefore very important that women should look beyond physical gathering, which may break Covid-19 protocol and utilize technologies such as virtual-communication and telephone conversations in place of physical congregation for effective participation in community development.