Affiliations 

  • 1 Faculty of Humanities, Tembalang, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang 50275, Indonesia
  • 2 Faculty of Civil Engineering, Częstochowa University of Technology, Akademicka 3, PL 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland
  • 3 Faculty of Business, Economics and Social Development, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu 21030, Malaysia
  • 4 Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Padjadjaran, Jatinangor, Sumedang, West Java 45363, Indonesia
  • 5 Sekolah Tinggi Ilmu Administrasi Publik, Dumai Selatan, Dumai, Riau 28826, Indonesia
  • 6 Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Islam Riau, Pekanbaru, Riau 28284, Indonesia
  • 7 Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, Jawa Tengah 50275, Indonesia
Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2021 Jun 15;18(12).
PMID: 34203631 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18126452

Abstract

Today, the spread of the Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to impact on world public health and bring about considerable human suffering partly due to government policies on reducing the spread. COVID-19 has significantly affected human health and it has impacted on the occupation of vulnerable groups such as tour guides, drivers and shop assistants. Of these, the present study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 self-isolation policy on the occupation of vulnerable groups in Semarang City, Indonesia. To achieve this objective, this study uses a qualitative method with an ethnography approach considering a rational or non-rational thinking model. The binary opposition thinking pattern pioneered by Lévi-Strauss was used in the interview process with 25 informants in Semarang City, Indonesia. The data analyzed the response pattern of informants through the taxonomy analysis. Three levels of vulnerability among groups relating to occupation were identified; jobs lost, income decreased, and delayed salary. The result of the analysis found that the group who obeyed self-isolation was categorized as a rational thinking; these groups stay at home, do not go to work, and have no income. Besides that, the group who ignored self-isolation is categorized as non-rational thinking; they work, as usual, get their salary, and believe that the COVID-19 pandemic is a disaster and they pray for their safety to God. In conclusion, COVID-19 brings a significant impact on occupation in the forms of postponing, declining, and missing income besides the health effects among vulnerable groups in Semarang city, Indonesia. In avoiding COVID-19 infection, the circumstances of vulnerable groups are worse when self-isolation is required. Thus, this study suggests that the government needs to assist vulnerable groups by focusing on strategic policies, such as strategies for survival, providing access to basic needs, including health, and offering livelihood plans by providing access to medical services and other source of income.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.