Trapped, anxious, afraid, suicidal. This is how some SA children are feeling amid lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic.
During Child Protection Week in June, Childline SA conducted a survey with children to understand the effect the pandemic has had on them. The preliminary report, titled Amplifying Children’s Voices, details their experiences.
The survey of 739 children took place between May 31 and June 7.
Most participants were from KwaZulu-Natal, the North West and Western Cape.
Of these, the largest group consisted of children aged 13 to 15 years, followed by 16 to 18 years, then 11 to 12 years. Children under the age of five also participated.
They were asked five questions, ranging from their concerns during this period, their feelings about lockdown and the pandemic, and government interventions to deal with Covid-19.
Forty-six percent of children expressed concerns about their health, their families’ health and the virus spreading.
One respondent from KZN in the 16 to 18-year-old age group said: “Mom might get infected, she’s a sister [nurse] and then we get infected and we all die”.
A participant from Gauteng felt trapped. “When they announced that there was to be a lockdown, I freaked out because I felt like it was the end of the world and we’re all going to die, which is ironic, since I’m home all day, every day, but now I feel trapped inside my house. Perhaps I’m claustrophobic.”
According to the report, 31% of the children were concerned about their education.
Other worries included food security, loss of employment and missing friends. Thirty-three percent asked for support in the form of home visits, counselling and emotional support, and someone to report abuse to.
Experts have expressed concern about children being at home. Shaheda Omar, from the Teddy Bear Clinic for Abused Children, said she had dealt with 350 new cases since the beginning of lockdown.
“We need to factor in that children have been indoors at home. It’s very concerning because who are the people responsible for protecting children? During lockdown what has surfaced is that people harming children are those nearest and dearest to them. There is no escape for children, they are trapped and locked inside the homes without any support outside the home,” Omar said.
The survey also highlighted that children felt worried, stressed and afraid during this time. These sentiments were echoed in a webinar with 40 children conducted by Childline SA and Media Monitoring Africa.
It was held on June 4, the week SA moved to level 3 lockdown, which permitted the sale of alcohol.
This group expressed concern about the sale of alcohol.
“Allowing the sale of alcohol was a mistake by government. They did not think of the impact on children and non-drinkers,” said one child.
The youngsters’ feelings “articulated the impact of the lockdown and abuse, noting the mental health consequences, and that some children were considering suicide, or seeking connection in sexual behaviour. An appeal was made to government and Childline to listen to children and provide support and attend to reports of abuse,” stated the report.
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