Page 133 - IJPS-10-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Household on teens’ COVID-19 prevention

2020). To develop targeted interventions addressing the household characteristics among young people during the
issues and challenges households faced in accessing health- COVID-19 period in South Africa. We used data from this
care services during the COVID-19 period—which had a wave to evaluate how household characteristics affected
negative impact on many South African households—it adolescents’ behavioral changes and preventive measures
is imperative to understand these dynamics within the adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa.
framework of health behavior models.
2.1. Study sample
To fully understand the effect of behavioral changes
and preventive measures among adolescents during the The sample for this study was extracted from the latest
COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa and to identify the data available from NIDS-CRAM 2021 (Wave 5), which
household factors influencing health-seeking behavior, included 5581 youths (99.9%) aged 15 – 24 years who listed
it is crucial to examine micro-level national data such preventive measures and ways their behaviors changed
as the National Income Dynamics Study—Coronavirus due to the COVID-19 infection. The study comprised
Rapid Mobile Survey 2021 (NIDS-CRAM; Wave 5). The 2150 males and 3431 females. Among the respondents,
specific household factors affecting adolescents’ behavioral more than 50% reported minimal behavioral changes,
changes and preventive measures throughout the whereas 60.1% did not adopt any preventive measures
COVID-19 outbreak in SSA, particularly in South Africa, throughout the COVID-19 outbreak.
remain unclear. This study aims to provide evidence that
could support the development and implementation of 2.1.1. Statement of ethics
behavioral health programs during pandemics. Thus, Ethics approval for the NIDS-CRAM survey was granted by
the objectives of this study are to (i) estimate the levels the Commerce Faculty Ethics Committee of the University
of behavioral changes and preventive measures adopted of Cape Town and the Research Ethics Committee: Social,
during the COVID-19 period in South Africa and (ii) Behavioral, and Education Research of the University of
explore the role of household characteristics on young Stellenbosch.
people during this time.
2.2. Study variables and measures
2. Methods
2.2.1. Outcome variables
For this study, we utilized data from the NIDS-
CRAM; Wave 5. The NIDS-CRAM was developed by This research investigated (i) behavioral changes due
academics from South African universities to track the to COVID-19 and (ii) preventive measures adopted by
socioeconomic and health impacts of the COVID-19 adolescents during the pandemic. The NIDS-CRAM 2021
pandemic in the country. The survey aimed to assess the (Wave 5) ranked behavioral changes into seven rankings
effects of the government-imposed lockdown on South (Appendix A1), while preventive measures were ranked
African households. The sample for this study was drawn into six rankings (Appendix A2). Appendix A1 presents
from the National Household Survey, referred to as the the measurement of adolescents’ responses to behavioral
NIDS. We focused on adolescents aged 15 – 24 years, changes during the COVID-19 period. These responses
using data from the NIDS-CRAM (Wave 5) (Ingle et al., were tracked over 7 weeks of telephone interviews and
2021) to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic categorized into three levels: (i) low, (ii) medium, and (iii)
outbreak on social and economic effects in South Africa. high. Appendix A2 outlines the measurement of preventive
The fifth wave of the survey, conducted from April 6, 2021, practices adopted by adolescents, based on 6 weeks of
to May 11, 2021 (Ingle et al., 2021), was chosen because it telephone interviews. These responses were categorized
was the most recent at the time this study was conceived. into (i) none, (ii) 1 – 3 preventive measures, and (iii) 4 – 7
It provided updates and analysis of the trend in household preventive measures.
living conditions during the pandemic. The data is freely 2.2.2. Independent variables
available for research at https://www.gtac.gov.za/
nids-cram-releases-wave-5-results/. The survey sample The primary independent variables considered in this
included 2150 males and 3431 females, totaling 5581 investigation were “household characteristics.” Adolescent
individuals. However, only adolescents aged 15 – 24 years respondents were asked about their households in terms
were included in our analysis. The NIDS-CRAM (Wave of (i) access to electricity, (ii) access to water, (iii) source
5) survey consisted of four main questionnaires, covering of income of the household, and (iv) whether household
household, individual, social, economic, schooling, and members received grants. Some of these variables were
housing factors. In addition, data from NIDS-CRAM recorded using binary responses (yes/no), whereas others
2021 (Wave 5) were used to assess the prevalence of involved categorical responses.

Volume 10 Issue 4 (2024) 127 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2751