Vulnerability and Agency in the Time of COVID-19: The Narratives of Child and Youth Care Workers in South Africa

Andile Samkele Masuku (), Reggiswindis Thobile Hlengwa, Lindelwa Vernon Mkhize and Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya
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Andile Samkele Masuku: Student Governance and Development Unit, Student Services, Steve Biko Campus, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
Reggiswindis Thobile Hlengwa: Department of Community Health Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ritson Campus, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
Lindelwa Vernon Mkhize: International Education and Partnerships, ML Sultan Campus, Durban University of Technology, Durban 4000, South Africa
Maureen Nokuthula Sibiya: Division of Research, Innovation and Engagement, Umlazi Campus, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Umlazi 4031, South Africa

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 6, 1-10

Abstract: In this paper, we use data generated through one-on-one interviews with 12 purposively sampled Child and Youth Care Workers to examine their narratives of work and life-related vulnerabilities and agency during the peak of the COVID-19 global pandemic in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Our findings show that Child and Youth Care Workers were vulnerable to poor mental health. Indeed, working and socialising during the height of COVID-19 posed a mental toll on the Child and Youth Care Workers in this study, who experienced fear, uncertainty, anxiety and stress. Moreover, these workers faced challenges with working under the so-called new normal, which was instituted as part of a non-pharmaceutical response to slow and curb the spread of COVID-19. Finally, our findings show that Child and Youth Care Workers actively identified and applied specific emotionally-focused and physically-focused coping mechanisms to deal with the burden brought on by the pandemic. The study has implications for CYCWs working during crisis periods.

Keywords: agency; COVID-19; child and youth care workers; mental health; vulnerability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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