COVID-19 lived experiences among informal settlement dwellers in the global south: a scoping review

At the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, significant concerns emerged regarding its potential impact on informal settlements and the ability of dwellers to navigate the challenges posed by the outbreak. A scoping review was conducted to map the existing knowledge to provide a nuanced understanding of the lived experiences of informal settlement dwellers in the global south during the pandemic. Thirty-four studies met the study’s inclusion criteria. Twenty-one (61.8%) studies reported on participants’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices; 26 (76.5%) discussed the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown, and 19 (55.9%) focused on the support measures provided. Adequate knowledge/information did not necessarily translate to positive attitudes and practices towards COVID-19 preventive behaviours. Some misconceptions about COVID-19 have been reported by 11 (32.4%) studies. Accordingly, dwellers faced socioeconomic, health-related, and physical consequences due to lockdown measures. Interventional assistance (e.g. cash transfers and food aid) to safeguard lives was inadequate and, in some cases, did not reach targeted beneficiaries. Our findings highlight the need to deepen our comprehensive understanding of the COVID-19 risk perception-behaviour nexus and explore why the social protection systems for pandemic response did not reach most dwellers. These could advance developing and implementing cost-effective and socially acceptable pandemic response policies.