The Relationship between COVID-19 and Social Capital among Urban Kebele Communities in Dire Dawa City Administration, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between COVID-19 pandemic and social capital among urban kebele communities in Dire Dawa City Administration. The study employed a quantitative approach with correlational survey research design. A total of 392 respondents selected from nine urban kebeles in Dire Dawa city. This study employed stratified and simple random sampling techniques. To collect the data from each urban kebele’s participants, close-ended questionnaire was used. Pearson correlation, T-test, ANOVA and multiple regression used as method of data analysis. The findings of this study indicated that there is negative relationship between COVID-19 and social capital dimensions (BOSC r=-.505, and BSC r=-.428) respectively. There is statistically significant difference between COVID-19 and BOSC (t=11.55, p= .000). There is a statistically significant difference between residential kebeles with BOSC, F (8, 391) = 6.978, p = .000); and BSC, F (8, 391) = 10.989, p = .000). The results of multiple regression indicated that age, residential kebeles, covid-19 and BSC together explained 75.8% of the variance in BOSC score, F (4, 387) = 302.65, p = .000. Researchers, policy makers, scientific communities, and government institutions should examine the roles of social capitals among the local communities.