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Preschool Environment: Teacher Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ghana

Author

Listed:
  • Cecilia Obeng

    (Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Heath, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Salome Amissah-Essel

    (Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast TF0494, Ghana)

  • Frederica Jackson

    (Department of Applied Health Science, School of Public Heath, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA)

  • Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi

    (Department of Built Environment, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA
    Environmental Health and Disease Laboratory, North Carolina A&T State University, Greensboro, NC 27411, USA)

Abstract

Background: In Ghana, the COVID-19 pandemic led to the government’s decision to shut down schools for nearly nine months. This study explores the experiences of preschool teachers in Ghana during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study was carried out using the Qualitative Description approach and aspects of Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory. Twenty-five teachers agreed to carry out face-to-face interviews with the researchers. An audio recorder device was used to record the interviews, with each interview lasting between 35–55 min. The analysis was carried out by two researchers who served as coders, and MAXQDA 2022 (VERBI Software GmbH) was used to do the analysis. Results: All twenty-five participants indicated their awareness of COVID-19. Participants said they were so “Scared” when they heard about COVID-19 that it could spell the doom for all humanity. Participants also talked about the extra workload that came upon them as a result of the pandemic and the “financial challenges” that they went through during the pandemic because they had no income since they were not teaching. Study participants indicated that one benefit of the pandemic was the heightened awareness of the need to practice hygienic behavior in their classroom. Conclusion: Participants’ beliefs about the virus being lethal led to mask wearing and the practice of hygienic behavior. Thus, although the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the emotional and financial status of the studied participants, a positive outcome was the participants’ awareness of the need to practice positive health behavior, which will contribute to the overall health and safety of everyone in the preschool environment.

Suggested Citation

  • Cecilia Obeng & Salome Amissah-Essel & Frederica Jackson & Emmanuel Obeng-Gyasi, 2022. "Preschool Environment: Teacher Experiences during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(12), pages 1-13, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:12:p:7286-:d:838417
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John M. Barrios & Yael Hochberg, 2020. "Risk Perception Through the Lens of Politics in the Time of the COVID-19 Pandemic," NBER Working Papers 27008, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    2. Quentin Wodon, 2012. "Improving the Targeting of Social Programs in Ghana," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 13081.
    3. Jonathan I. Dingel & Christina Patterson & Joseph Vavra, 2020. "Childcare Obligations Will Constrain Many Workers When Reopening the US Economy," Working Papers 2020-46, Becker Friedman Institute for Research In Economics.
    4. Quentin Wodon, 2012. "Improving the Targeting of Social Programs in Ghana," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 13082.
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