Social Implications of COVID-19 in Iran: A Social Work Perspective

Background: The widespread and rapid outbreak of COVID-19 shows how a biological and epidemiological issue can affect all aspects of life, including the social domain, leading to short-term and long-term changes in the social and cultural structure of society. Accordingly, the present study aimed to...

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Main Authors: Monire Balochi, Amir Moghanibashi-Mansourieh, Reza Dehnavieh, Seyed Hassan Mousavi Chelak, Seyed Mohammad Hossein Javadi, Seyed Reza Javadian, Narges Rostami-Gooran, Khalil Kalavani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Kerman University of Medical Sciences 2024-12-01
Series:Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences
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Online Access:https://jqr1.kmu.ac.ir/article_92602_be5ccbcf6078b3a0027705a3529e9d76.pdf
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author Monire Balochi
Amir Moghanibashi-Mansourieh
Reza Dehnavieh
Seyed Hassan Mousavi Chelak
Seyed Mohammad Hossein Javadi
Seyed Reza Javadian
Narges Rostami-Gooran
Khalil Kalavani
author_facet Monire Balochi
Amir Moghanibashi-Mansourieh
Reza Dehnavieh
Seyed Hassan Mousavi Chelak
Seyed Mohammad Hossein Javadi
Seyed Reza Javadian
Narges Rostami-Gooran
Khalil Kalavani
author_sort Monire Balochi
collection DOAJ
description Background: The widespread and rapid outbreak of COVID-19 shows how a biological and epidemiological issue can affect all aspects of life, including the social domain, leading to short-term and long-term changes in the social and cultural structure of society. Accordingly, the present study aimed to illustrate the social effects of COVID-19 using the futures wheel method.Methods: This qualitative study utilized the futures wheel method. Two groups of experts participated in this study, including experts in the social field at the Institute for Futures Studies in Health and national-level experts in the field of social work. The second version of the futures wheel was implemented in three steps. The identified effects were categorized based on (1) opportunities and threats and (2) time intervals (short-term and long-term). Cases with a support rate of more than 70% were included in the futures wheel as final factors.Results: The findings of this study revealed two main layers of social effects stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak. Home quarantine, social responsibility, social distancing, social security, increased risk for vulnerable social groups, and the use of social networks were the categories identified at the first layer. The second layer included factors such as individualism, social stigma, social exclusion, domestic violence, and an increase in abortions, which threatened Iranian society in a short period.Conclusion: Threats may manifest through social protests, class disparities, and the increase in social disorders in the long run. In the short term, opportunities such as reducing the number of female-headed households and increasing intragroup social capital can also be predicted. Therefore, it is expected that the role of civil society will be strengthened in the long term.
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spelling doaj-art-30b2a6fc69ed46bc97f54171b8ba90212025-08-20T03:02:20ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesJournal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences2645-61092024-12-0113420421210.34172/jqr.2024.2992602Social Implications of COVID-19 in Iran: A Social Work PerspectiveMonire Balochi0Amir Moghanibashi-Mansourieh1Reza Dehnavieh2Seyed Hassan Mousavi Chelak3Seyed Mohammad Hossein Javadi4Seyed Reza Javadian5Narges Rostami-Gooran6Khalil Kalavani7Health Foresight and Innovation Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IranSocial Work Department, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, IranHealth Foresight and Innovation Research Center, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IranIran Association of Social Workers, Tehran, IranSocial Work Department, Faculty of Paramedical Sciences, Mashhad University of Medical sciences, Mashhad, IranDepartment of Social Sciences, Yazd University, Yazd, IranMinistry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, IranDepartment of Public Health, Khoy University of Medical Sciences, Khoy, IranBackground: The widespread and rapid outbreak of COVID-19 shows how a biological and epidemiological issue can affect all aspects of life, including the social domain, leading to short-term and long-term changes in the social and cultural structure of society. Accordingly, the present study aimed to illustrate the social effects of COVID-19 using the futures wheel method.Methods: This qualitative study utilized the futures wheel method. Two groups of experts participated in this study, including experts in the social field at the Institute for Futures Studies in Health and national-level experts in the field of social work. The second version of the futures wheel was implemented in three steps. The identified effects were categorized based on (1) opportunities and threats and (2) time intervals (short-term and long-term). Cases with a support rate of more than 70% were included in the futures wheel as final factors.Results: The findings of this study revealed two main layers of social effects stemming from the COVID-19 outbreak. Home quarantine, social responsibility, social distancing, social security, increased risk for vulnerable social groups, and the use of social networks were the categories identified at the first layer. The second layer included factors such as individualism, social stigma, social exclusion, domestic violence, and an increase in abortions, which threatened Iranian society in a short period.Conclusion: Threats may manifest through social protests, class disparities, and the increase in social disorders in the long run. In the short term, opportunities such as reducing the number of female-headed households and increasing intragroup social capital can also be predicted. Therefore, it is expected that the role of civil society will be strengthened in the long term.https://jqr1.kmu.ac.ir/article_92602_be5ccbcf6078b3a0027705a3529e9d76.pdfcovid-19pandemicsocial effectsfutures wheeliran
spellingShingle Monire Balochi
Amir Moghanibashi-Mansourieh
Reza Dehnavieh
Seyed Hassan Mousavi Chelak
Seyed Mohammad Hossein Javadi
Seyed Reza Javadian
Narges Rostami-Gooran
Khalil Kalavani
Social Implications of COVID-19 in Iran: A Social Work Perspective
Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences
covid-19
pandemic
social effects
futures wheel
iran
title Social Implications of COVID-19 in Iran: A Social Work Perspective
title_full Social Implications of COVID-19 in Iran: A Social Work Perspective
title_fullStr Social Implications of COVID-19 in Iran: A Social Work Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Social Implications of COVID-19 in Iran: A Social Work Perspective
title_short Social Implications of COVID-19 in Iran: A Social Work Perspective
title_sort social implications of covid 19 in iran a social work perspective
topic covid-19
pandemic
social effects
futures wheel
iran
url https://jqr1.kmu.ac.ir/article_92602_be5ccbcf6078b3a0027705a3529e9d76.pdf
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