RECOVR Ghana: Tracking the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ghana Education Financial Inclusion Governance Health & Nutrition Entrepreneurship & Private Sector Development Social Protection

RECOVR Ghana: Tracking the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Researchers

Shana Warren, Doug Parkerson, Elliott Collins

Abstract

Tracking how people’s lives are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic can enable policymakers to better understand the situation in their countries and make data-driven policy decisions. To respond to this need, IPA has developed the RECOVR survey—a panel survey that will facilitate comparisons, document real-time trends of policy concern, and inform decision-makers about the communities that are hardest-hit by the economic toll of the pandemic. In Ghana, the survey is providing rapid policy-relevant data to inform government policies regarding social protection for vulnerable households, remote education, and support for small businesses affected by shutdowns. The Ghana RECOVR survey is also incorporating an experiment on health messaging. The survey’s first round was carried out from May 6-26 and comprised 1,357 respondents reached through random digit dialing of a nationally representative sample of numbers.

Project Outcomes of Interest

Some of the key questions the survey aims to answer at the global level include the size and scope of the disruptions to government service provision, work disruptions and type of disruptions, whether and how households with school-aged children are spending time on education since schools have been closed, extent to which people are skipping necessary healthcare, identification of populations most at risk of skipping necessary healthcare. The Ghana survey focuses on COVID-19 mitigation behavior, education, work and income, social safety net support received, food and market security, and financial health.

Key Findings

 

  • 10% of respondents say someone in their household delayed or skipped needed healthcare visits since mid-March. Over 60% of cancellations were out of concern for COVID-19.
  • More than 40% of respondents say they have had to limit portion sizes at meal times or reduce the number of meals in the past week.
  • 29% of respondents say they would not be able to find 500 cedis to pay for an emergency.
  • While 65% of respondents report working in February, 41% of households report working in the past 7 days. Of those still working, 41% earned less and 29% worked fewer hours in the past week.
  • Respondents report that 64% of primary and 57% of secondary school children are spending time on education at home since schools were closed.

Link to Results

Full results presentation, blog post summarizing the key takeaways, and webinar (video recording) sharing the results and their policy implications

Impact Goals

  • Build resilience and protect the financial health of families and individuals
  • Build resilient and adaptable businesses and employment opportunities
  • Improve social-safety net responses
  • Improve women’s health, safety, and economic empowerment
  • Keep children safe, healthy, and learning
  • Reduce COVID-19 transmission rates

Project Data Collection Mode

  • CATI (Computer-assisted telephone interviewing)

Link to Data Collection Instruments

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GZ5CqeOSjPySMayAtqRVow_gkGSx342bVPjUURjJZD4/edit#gid=1686843122

Link to Public Data

https://dataverse.harvard.edu/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.7910/DVN/QWLV0M

Results Status

Results