Gendered Health, Economic, Social and Safety Impact of COVID-19 on Adolescents and Young Adults in Nairobi, Kenya
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Date
2021
Authors
Decker, Michele R.
Wood, Shannon N.
Thiongo, Mary
Byrne, Meagan E.
Devoto, Bianca
Morgan, Rosemary
Bevilacqua, Kristin
Williams, Anaise
H, Colleen Stuart
Wamue- Ngare, Grace
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
PloseOne
Abstract
Background
Infectious disease outbreaks like COVID-19 and their mitigation measures can exacerbate
underlying gender disparities, particularly among adolescents and young adults in densely
populated urban settings.
Methods
An existing cohort of youth ages 16–26 in Nairobi, Kenya completed a phone-based survey
in August-October 2020 (n = 1217), supplemented by virtual focus group discussions and
interviews with youth and stakeholders, to examine economic, health, social, and safety
experiences during COVID-19, and gender disparities therein.
Results
COVID-19 risk perception was high with a gender differential favoring young women (95.5%
vs. 84.2%; p<0.001); youth described mixed concern and challenges to prevention. During
COVID-19, gender symmetry was observed in constrained access to contraception among
contraceptive users (40.4% men; 34.6% women) and depressive symptoms (21.8% men;
24.3% women). Gender disparities rendered young women disproportionately unable to
meet basic economic needs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.21; p<0.05) and in need of
healthcare during the pandemic (aOR = 1.59; p<0.001). At a bivariate level, women had lower full decisional control to leave the house (40.0% vs. 53.2%) and less consistent
access to safe, private internet (26.1% vs. 40.2%), while men disproportionately experienced police interactions (60.1%, 55.2% of which included extortion). Gender-specific concerns for women included menstrual hygiene access challenges (52.0%), increased
reliance on transactional partnerships, and gender-based violence, with 17.3% reporting
past-year partner violence and 3.0% non-partner sexual violence. Qualitative results contextualize the mental health impact of economic disruption and isolation, and, among young
women, privacy constraints.
Implications
Youth and young adults face gendered impacts of COVID-19, reflecting both underlying disparities and the pandemic’s economic and social shock. Economic, health and technologybased supports must ensure equitable access for young women. Gender-responsive recovery efforts are necessary and must address the unique needs of youth.
Description
A research article published in PloseOne
Keywords
Gendered health, Impact of COVID-19, Adolescents and young adults, Nairobi, Kenya
Citation
Decker MR, Wood SN, Thiongo M, Byrne ME, Devoto B, Morgan R, et al. (2021) Gendered health, economic, social and safety impact of COVID-19 on adolescents and young adults in Nairobi, Kenya. PLoS ONE 16(11): e0259583. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259583