Roles of Technology for Risk Communication and Community Engagement in Bangladesh during COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic required handling a clear communication of risk and community engagement. A gap is noted in scholarly studies portraying strong community engagement for risk handling, particularly in resource constrained regions in HCI community. This study covers community engagement and its use of technology during COVID-19 through a qualitative study of Bangladesh. The study looks at marginalized communities who have struggled through the pandemic yet handled the difficult time through their effective problem solving, working together as a community when there was not enough support from authorities. It is a qualitative study during the pandemic consisting of 9 communities, presenting 58 participants (N=58, Female= 33, Male=23, Transgender =2) across four divisions of Bangladesh covering urban, semi urban, and rural regions. The study uncovers the challenges and close community structures. It also shows the enhanced and increased positive role of technology during the pandemic while referring to a few communities being digitally disconnected communities that could benefit from digital connectivity in the future through increased awareness and support.