Table 4 Coping with the impacts of COVID-19
Domains & associated themes | Illustrative quotes |
|---|---|
SPECIFIC COPING STRATEGIES | |
Social support | “[My current partner] fills that gap that the father of my baby abandoned me, you see. So, I no longer have stress about not having the father of my baby… I mean I am not expecting him to give me money for the baby, but the stress of not having no one, he closes that gap.” (Age 33) |
Acceptance | “We have to just accept it; you cannot cope with everything. I cannot say I am satisfied because, as a mom, I am not working. I am not satisfied because we are not in a stage where I want us to be in. I am grateful that [my baby] is alive, she is able to eat, she does not go to bed without food. That is what I can say.” (Age 31) |
Spirituality, prayer, or religion | “For now, I don’t know what is it that can be done, what could make it better. Nothing beats prayer, to pray for myself, that makes it better until this lockdown passes.” (Age 29) |
Adherence to COVID-19 prevention protocols | “I do not go anywhere when there is no need, I make sure that I stay at home. When I go out, I have my mask. I take my baby to the clinic or when I go to collect my pills. I only go out when there is a need.” (Age 22) |
Distraction or engagement in activities | “What I used to do to keep myself busy [is] I opened a space for a garden and planted vegetables so that when I want something, I am able to get it, because I am not able to get anything because of this corona.” (Age 28) |