Stepping into the Void: Lessons Learned from Civil Society Organizations during COVID-19 in Rio de Janeiro

Rodrigo Curty Pereira (), Susan J. Elliott and Pablo Llaguno Cárdenas
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Rodrigo Curty Pereira: Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Susan J. Elliott: Geography and Environmental Management, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
Pablo Llaguno Cárdenas: International Relations and Political Science, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Monterrey 64849, NL, Mexico

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 8, 1-18

Abstract: Brazil experienced some of the highest rates of COVID-19 globally. This was complicated by the fact that 35 million of its citizens have limited access to water, a primary resource necessary to stem the spread of infectious diseases. In many cases, civil society organizations (CSOs) stepped into this void left by responsible authorities. This paper explores how CSOs in Rio de Janeiro helped populations struggling with access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) during the pandemic, and what coping strategies are transferable to similar contexts. In-depth interviews ( n = 15) were conducted with CSO representatives in the metropolitan region of Rio de Janeiro. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed that COVID-19 exacerbated pre-existing social inequities among vulnerable populations, undermining their ability to protect their health. CSOs provided emergency relief aid but faced the counterproductive actions of public authorities who promoted a narrative that diminished the risks of COVID-19 and the importance of non-pharmacological interventions. CSOs fought this narrative by promoting sensitization among vulnerable populations and partnering with other stakeholders in networks of solidarity, playing a vital role in the distribution of health-promoting services. These strategies are transferrable to other contexts where state narratives oppose public health understandings, particularly for extremely vulnerable populations.

Keywords: COVID-19; civil society organizations; water; WASH; hygiene (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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