Findings from the violence outcomes in COVID-19 era study (VoCes-19): Baseline results

This report presents findings from the baseline survey of the Violence Outcomes in COVID-19 Era Study (VOCES-19). The study, conducted by Population Council Mexico in collaboration with the National Institute of Youth and the National Center for Gender Equity and Reproductive Health aims to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying mitigation measures on the experience and perception of violence among 15–24-year-olds living in Mexico, as well as its effects on other social, economic, and health, related outcomes. The primary objectives for this first survey round were to gather baseline information on several outcomes of interest, assess differential effects by gender, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status, and establish a cohort of adolescents and young adults to measure the impact of the pandemic on young people in Mexico over time

Violence Outcomes in COVID-19 EPOCH Study (VOCES): A cohort study with adolescents and young adults in Mexico

The social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico are poised to have long-lasting and significant impact on adolescents and young adults. To inform government agency strategies and public policies related to youth in Mexico, the Population Council in Mexico, as part of the COVID-19 study team, is implementing a nationwide longitudinal cohort study. The study utilizes online surveys to reach adolescents and young adults between 15 and 24 years of age. The aim of the study is to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the experience and perception of violence among this population, as well as its impact on other social, economic, and health outcomes related to violence. Gathering information about the unintended impacts of social distancing measures on different dimensions of adolescents’ and young adults\u27 lives and including their voices in the existing body of evidence will provide descriptive data about the on-going situation for adolescents and young adults during the pandemic. Data from this study can also be used by policy makers and practitioners to design and implement policies and interventions to reduce long-term negative health, social, and economic consequences of the pandemic for this critically important population, as well as to help design recovery policies. We are committed to openly sharing the latest versions of the study description, questionnaires, datasets, and preliminary results

The multidimensional, intersecting impacts of COVID-19 on young people\u27s lives: Evidence from cross-sectional surveys in Mexico, India, and Kenya

Purpose: Studies have documented diverse adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on young people\u27s lives—for instance on mental health, education/employment prospects, and intrafamily violence. We sought to generate much-needed evidence regarding whether, and which, young people are experiencing multiple intersecting effects. Methods: Data come from cross-sectional surveys with young people ages 15–25 years in Mexico (nationwide, n = 55,692), Kenya (four counties, n = 2,750), and India (two states, n = 3,537), collected from late 2020 to early 2022. We used latent class analysis to identify subgroups based on multiple adverse effects, then examined associations between these subgroups and COVID-19 infections/family deaths, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: We found prevalent adverse impacts overall and two distinct subgroups in each country—one experiencing higher levels of all impacts, such as on mental health (44%–78% across countries), education/employment (22%–84%), intrafamily violence (22%–49%), and friendships (66%–86%). This subgroup comprised 40% of the sample in Mexico, 25% in Kenya, and 35% in India. In multivariate analyses, this group consistently had greater odds of experiencing COVID-19-related infections and deaths of loved ones. They were more likely socioeconomically disadvantaged, older, urban residents. Associations with other characteristics were country-specific. Discussion: This study provides novel cross-country evidence that a subgroup of young people has experienced intersecting adverse impacts of COVID-19 on their lives. Findings also confirm prior evidence of multiple elevated vulnerabilities in general. Expanded provision of multiple layers of support is required, particularly for the most vulnerable subgroup, as are multi-sectoral policies and interventions to prevent intersectional effects in future times of crisis