El impacto de las restricciones por COVID-19 en la salud y el bienestar de las mujeres que viven en asentamientos informales en Uganda
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Introducción: La pandemia de COVID-19 impactó significativamente a Uganda, con el primer caso reportado en marzo de 2020, lo que dio lugar a amplias restricciones de salud pública, incluyendo confinamiento, toque de queda y cierre de escuelas y lugares de trabajo. Los residentes urbanos, particularmente aquellos que viven en condiciones de pobreza en asentamientos informales, enfrentaron mayores desafíos debido al acceso inadecuado a servicios básicos, dificultades económicas y el aumento de las responsabilidades de cuidado, especialmente para las mujeres. Estas sufrieron un mayor riesgo de violencia de género y recurrieron al sexo transaccional como mecanismo de afrontamiento. Este estudio exploró las estrategias utilizadas por mujeres en las ciudades de Kampala y Mbale para satisfacer sus necesidades básicas durante la pandemia y sus implicaciones en la vulnerabilidad a la infección por VIH.
Métodos: Los investigadores realizaron grupos focales con 209 mujeres de diferentes grupos de edad en los mayores asentamientos informales de Kampala y Mbale, recopilando información sobre sus experiencias durante la pandemia. Estas discusiones, llevadas a cabo en lenguas locales, exploraron los desafíos sociales, familiares y económicos de las mujeres, así como sus percepciones sobre los riesgos de VIH. Las transcripciones fueron traducidas por expertos en lenguas locales antes del análisis. El equipo analizó los datos utilizando el software NVivo versión 14, identificando patrones y temas que revelaron las estrategias de supervivencia empleadas por las mujeres.
Resultados: El estudio identificó tres temas interconectados que reflejan las complejas estrategias y desafíos enfrentados por las mujeres en asentamientos informales de Kampala y Mbale durante la pandemia de COVID-19. Las mujeres tuvieron dificultades para hacer frente a las carencias económicas y al aumento de las responsabilidades de cuidado, recurriendo a menudo a medidas como el sexo transaccional para sobrevivir. La pandemia exacerbó las vulnerabilidades, incrementando los riesgos de transmisión del VIH y los problemas de salud mental. Aunque las redes de apoyo brindaron cierto alivio, a menudo fueron insuficientes para satisfacer las diversas necesidades de las mujeres en estas comunidades.
Conclusiones: El estudio muestra que las mujeres en los asentamientos informales de Uganda demostraron resiliencia al asumir nuevos roles y participar en actividades comerciales; sin embargo, su dependencia del sexo transaccional evidenció desequilibrios de poder, aumentando su vulnerabilidad a la violencia de género, los embarazos no deseados y la infección por VIH. Esto resalta la necesidad urgente de intervenciones específicas que aborden los complejos desafíos que enfrentan las mujeres en situaciones de crisis, lo que podría fortalecer su resiliencia y aliviar sus múltiples dificultades, aportando lecciones valiosas para contextos similares en países de ingresos bajos y medios.
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