RIYADH — A recent Saudi survey revealed that staying at home during curfew imposed by the authorities as part of measures to stem the spread of coronavirus has been instrumental in enhancing considerably health awareness and sense of social responsibility among Saudi family members. This also helped further strengthen relationships and communications among family members. The main objective of the study was to identify the health, social and economic repercussions families face due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It was revealed in the study that the Kingdom's experiment in raising awareness, which was carried out through various platforms and relevant text messages, has been a resounding success. The awareness prompted all governmental and private agencies to interact and volunteer in spreading awareness messages about the pandemic. It took five months to complete the study, which was carried out by the Saudi Family Affairs Council, in cooperation with the Mubdeoon Center at King Abdulaziz University of Jeddah. The study confirmed that 69 percent of those who took part in the survey believed that the directive to stay indoors during curfew time increased health awareness among family members and enhanced their sense of social responsibility, while 71 percent saw that they did not face the slightest difficulty in understanding health-related guidelines and prevention measures, while 74 percent of respondents stated that they would become more careful in dealing with epidemic diseases, Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper reported. According to the findings of the study, 91 percent of families saw that the curfew-time ban contributed to strengthening relationships, communication and effective dialogue among family members. It also helped them enhance their awareness about shouldering their responsibilities and household tasks as well as increased participation of parents along with their children in entertainment and group games. The curfew time ban also contributed to sharing of household burdens among family members during the pandemic, as mothers came in first place with 49 percent in sharing the burdens, followed by fathers in second place with 34 percent, while the sisters came third with eight percent and brothers stood in the fourth position with seven percent. The study revealed that there is a drop in differences of opinion among family members during the period of stay at home, with 82 percent of those families who participated in the study did not involve in violence in any way among their family members while 60 percent of families stated that no differences occurred between their members. During the period, 74 percent of families stated that no family member had exercised any form of violence or abuse against them. The study also showed that the curfew time ban has also been instrumental in enhancing the culture of savings by 56 percent. "Around 45 percent of families favored teaching their children in public schools instead of private schools or international schools, while 76 percent of them relied on homely food instead of resorting to restaurants and fast food outlets," the study revealed.
