Impact of COVID-19 on Health and Livelihoods in Informal Settlements

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed and amplified vulnerabilities in informal settlements worldwide. High population density, inadequate water and sanitation, and insecure housing have hampered basic infection control measures such as physical distancing and hand hygiene. Health impacts have included rapid viral transmission, strain on under-resourced clinics and heightened mental-health burdens. Livelihoods have been disrupted by lockdowns and movement restrictions, leading to widespread income loss, food insecurity and interruption of education. Women and marginalised groups have faced disproportionate burdens, including increased gender-based violence and child labour. At the same time, community networks and locally led initiatives have played a crucial role in adapting health messages, distributing essentials and supporting coping strategies. Research highlights the need for interventions that integrate public health, social protection and infrastructure upgrades, tailored to the spatial and social realities of slum environments, to build resilience against future shocks.

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Impact of COVID-19 on Health and Livelihoods in Informal Settlements publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in impact of covid-19 on health and livelihoods in informal settlements across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Informal settlements: Urban areas where housing is irregularly built, lacking secure tenure and basic services such as water, sanitation and waste management.

Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs): Public‐health measures—such as lockdowns, curfews, distancing and hygiene promotion—implemented to limit disease spread without medical treatment.

Spatial accessibility analysis: A GIS-based method to estimate travel times or distances from residences to service points, accounting for transportation networks and terrain.

Food insecurity: A state in which individuals or households lack reliable access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet dietary needs.

References

1. COVID-19 Interventions in an informal settlement: A spatial analysis of accessibility in Kibera, Kenya. Journal of Transport Geography (2023).
2. Unintended socio-economic and health consequences of COVID-19 among slum dwellers in Kampala, Uganda. BMC Public Health (2022).
3. Unintended consequences of implementing non-pharmaceutical interventions for the COVID-19 response in Africa: experiences from DRC, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda. Globalization and Health (2023).
4. Slum Health: Arresting COVID-19 and Improving Well-Being in Urban Informal Settlements. Journal of Urban Health (2020).
5. Local response in health emergencies: key considerations for addressing the COVID-19 pandemic in informal urban settlements. Environment and Urbanization (2020).