cohort·pediatrics, public health, epidemiology, family medicine, psychiatry·PMC10414574
The impact of family support and organization on adolescents during school closure under Covid-19 lockdown regulations in an area of South Africa
PLOS ONE · 4 authors, 3 centres
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Well-organized families with lower CHAOS scores were more likely to report cohesion and cooperative distance learning, while adolescents lacking family stability, digital access, and teacher outreach were most at risk of educational disruption.
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This mixed-methods sub-study was embedded in the Asenze population-based cohort study in peri-urban South Africa, which had assessed n=272 adolescents and n=241 caregivers by Wave 3 when in-person data collection was halted by national lockdown in March 2020. Quantitative data from Waves 1–3 were used to measure family function via the CHAOS scale and adolescent cognitive function. Families with lower CHAOS scores across prior assessments reported better cohesion during lockdown. Adolescents who were self-motivated, had smartphone or internet access, and received support from both family and educators were best able to continue schooling; however, few schools instituted distance learning. The authors note the study's small purposeful sample limits generalizability and that sensitive topics such as gender-based violence were unlikely to be disclosed via telephone.
