{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,21]],"date-time":"2026-02-21T00:51:02Z","timestamp":1771635062407,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Wiley","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,28]],"date-time":"2025-05-28T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1748390400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/termsAndConditions#vor"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["onlinelibrary.wiley.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Child"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2025,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>ABSTRACT<\/jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background<\/jats:title><jats:p>The COVID\u201019 pandemic significantly altered everyday life for children globally, particularly in regions with high infection rates. In Ghana, limited research has documented the lived experiences of children during this public health crisis, especially in hotspot areas like Accra and Tema.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Objectives<\/jats:title><jats:p>The aim was to highlight children's experiences of the pandemic as they recount their positive and negative moments.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title><jats:p>A qualitative research design was utilised for this study. In\u2010depth telephone interviews were conducted with 59 children aged 8 to 17 years from Accra and Tema, two of Ghana's COVID\u201019 hotspots. The interviews were transcribed and thematically analysed to identify key patterns and insights.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Children reported mixed experiences during the pandemic. On the positive side, many appreciated spending more time with parents and siblings, which helped strengthen family bonds. However, they also faced challenges such as food insecurity, overcrowding in their homes, the loss of family members to COVID\u201019, and instances of domestic abuse, as highlighted in the findings.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title><jats:p>Strong family support and psychosocial interventions are recommended to reduce the likelihood of children experiencing harsh punishment. The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection should take the lead on this initiative, with support from other government agencies and non\u2010governmental organisations.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1111\/cch.70104","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,28]],"date-time":"2025-05-28T17:12:26Z","timestamp":1748452346000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["\u2018COVID\u201019 Evokes Positive and Negative Memories\u2019: The Experiences of Children in Ghana: A Qualitative Inquiry"],"prefix":"10.1111","volume":"51","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3058-5831","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sylvester","family":"Kyei\u2010Gyamfi","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Children, Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection  Accra Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3158-2528","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zita","family":"Kyei\u2010Gyamfi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Electricity Company of Ghana  Tema Greater Accra Region Ghana"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"311","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,5,28]]},"reference":[{"key":"e_1_2_14_2_1","unstructured":"Accra Metropolitan Assembly.2020. \u201cThe City of Accra. 2020 Voluntary Local Review (VLR) Report on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and African Union Agenda 2063.\u201dhttps:\/\/ama.gov.gh\/documents\/Accra_City_2020_VLR_Report\u2010Final__(May_2020)_docx.pdf."},{"key":"e_1_2_14_3_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/jcv2.12005"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_4_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/ejihpe11030061"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_5_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/0020764021991896"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_6_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/S1368980021001932"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_7_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.22555\/joeed.v7i1.3260"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_8_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1191\/1478088706qp063oa"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_9_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/978-981-10-5251-4_103"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_10_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.gpeds.2023.100080"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_11_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1080\/13575279.2022.2104218"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_12_1","unstructured":"Department of Children.2020. \u201cReport on Regional Consultation on Ghana's 6th and 7th Combined Report to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.\u201d"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_13_1","unstructured":"Department of Children.2022. \u201cReport on Regional Dialogue With Children on COVID\u201019 and Its Effects on Children.\u201d"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_14_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1177\/1744987119880234"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_15_1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.23736\/S0026\u20104946.20.05887\u20109"},{"key":"e_1_2_14_16_1","unstructured":"ImaniJ. 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