COVID-19’s unequal impact in Kazakhstan: examining the divide between urban and rural children

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COVID-19’s unequal impact in Kazakhstan: examining the divide between urban and rural children
In Kazakhstan, urban and rural children experienced the COVID-19 crisis differently, reveals the latest Health Behaviour in School-aged Children study.
The COVID-19 pandemic significantly disrupted adolescents’ social lives and school routines, and in the post-pandemic period, schoolchildren faced the additional challenge of readjusting and returning to their everyday routines.

In spring 2022, the National Centre for Public Health and the WHO Country Office in Kazakhstan collaborated to conduct the second round of the HBSC survey, which focused on collecting adolescents’ perspectives on their health and well-being in the post-COVID-19 period.

“Although we had heard extensively from health officials, politicians, psychologists, educators and parents about how the pandemic has affected children and adolescents, it was crucial to also listen to the perspectives of schoolchildren themselves,” says Zhanar Kalmakova, Acting Chair of the Board, National Centre for Public Health.

“The COVID-19 pandemic impacted everyone, and while the younger generation was less affected by severe illness, social isolation and restrictions have impacted children’s mental well-being and education. Our study provides valuable insights that can aid decision-making and planning, considering adolescents’ specific contexts, needs and concerns,” added Dr Skender Syla, WHO Representative in Kazakhstan.

The national HBSC 2022 report, summarizing the study’s findings and trends in adolescents’ health behaviour and health outcomes, was launched at a country dialogue on 27 February 2023.

Front cover of HBSC Kazakhstan 2021-22 national report

Download the report (English)

Urban and rural adolescents cope differently

“Rural children reported a higher negative impact of pandemic-related restrictive measures on their lives compared to their urban peers,” explains Assel Adayeva, a researcher from the National Centre for Public Health. “This is particularly evident in areas such as school performance, social life and household finances.”

For example, 42.2% of 11–15-year-old children in rural areas reported a decline in their school performance, compared to 38.8% in urban areas. About one-third of rural schoolchildren also reported a negative impact of restrictive measures on relationships with friends and family, and on their family’s financial situation, compared to a lower prevalence among urban children.

Sources of information

“We find that adolescents living in rural settings relied heavily on television and print media to obtain information about COVID-19, while urban children turned mostly to social media,” explains Adayeva.

According to the study, social media was the most frequently used source of information, with 65.8% of children reporting that they sometimes, often or always turned to it. Newspapers, magazines, radio and television were the second most used sources, with 53.6% of adolescents relying on them, followed by family members (50.8%), teachers and other school staff (48.8%), friends (46.3%), national health authorities (45.7%), bloggers or online influencers (44.9%) and other sources (31.7%).

Adoption of and adherence to restrictive measures

Compared to their urban peers, adolescents living in rural areas demonstrated a greater commitment to preventing the spread of COVID-19 infection. As per the findings, rural adolescents were more diligent in adopting measures such as wearing face masks, maintaining social distancing, avoiding crowded places, using antiseptic agents and practising good hygiene. More than two-thirds of schoolchildren aged 11–15 often or always used face masks, while 77.8% of children regularly washed their hands.

The study also revealed that staying at home and following social distancing measures proved challenging for adolescents during the pandemic, and just under half of them adhered to these measures.

“Our study has shown that even though the pandemic has subsided, and we have resumed our normal lives, adolescents are still grappling with its aftermath. As such, we must help alleviate these effects and support young people as they seek to further their education, socialize with others, and maintain their physical and mental well-being,” Kalmakova explains.