Document Type
Brief
Publication Date
11-12-2020
Abstract
Between June 13 and 16, 2020, a phone survey was completed with 1,022 adolescents ages 10–19 in Dandora, Huruma, Kariobangi, Kibera, and Mathare, Kenya. All participants were part of cohorts that the Population Council was following prior to COVID-19. As noted in this brief, adolescents living in these informal settlements have been severely impacted by COVID-19 and the mitigation measures put in place mainly due to school closures and economic stress. Social protection and food distribution is needed, with attention to reaching adolescents experiencing hunger. There appears to be more pressure on boys to work or look for income, while girls are picking up more of the increased domestic burden and are at increased risk of sexual exploitation to meet their needs. While it is too early to see a spike in teenage pregnancy due to COVID-19, the environment is ripe for a spike in the next six months. If measures are not taken to reduce the social, health, and economic stressors, there will be long-term negative impacts on Kenyan adolescents.
DOI
10.31899/pgy17.1006
Language
English
Recommended Citation
"Social, health, education and economic effects of COVID -19 on adolescent girls in Kenya: Responses from data collection in five Nairobi informal settlements (Kibera, Huruma, Kariobangi, Dandora, and Mathare), June 2020—Nairobi," COVID-19 Research & Evaluations brief. Nairobi: Population Council, 2020.
Project
Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic