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The HERStory series: COVID-19 and socio-economic mental health stressors in the lives of South African adolescent girls and young women

HERStory Series

The HERStory series: COVID-19 and socio-economic mental health stressors in the lives of South African adolescent girls and young women

Summary

  • Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in South Africa already faced a range of socio-economic, structural and environmental mental health stressors.
  • COVID-19 has increased household financial strain and food insecurity, which have in turn contributed to increased depression, anxiety and mental health issues.
  • Poorer communities in South Africa have borne the brunt of the burden of lockdowns, with restrictions disproportionately affecting those families and individuals already living in poverty, increasing unemployment and food insecurity.
  • Interventions responsive to pandemic context are needed to support psychological and emotional wellbeing of AGYW, and bolster their coping mechanisms.
  • A multi-sectoral and coordinated response is needed to address unemployment and food insecurity, and reduce key drivers of poor mental health.

View the complete Research Brief: COVID-19 and socio-economic mental health stressors in the lives of South African adolescent girls and young women

The South African Medical Research Council’s strategic plan includes the generation of new knowledge and its translation into policy and practice. In the Health Systems Research Unit, our research aims to inform and support decision-making in health and social policy to strengthen health systems, and therefore improve the health of South Africans. We evaluate the effectiveness and efficiency of care delivery models in communities, schools, and health facilities. To ensure relevance of our research, we apply implementation science principles and approaches, and engage and partner with Departments of Health at all levels of government, as well as with communities and other stakeholders. 

As a unit, we are developing research briefs based on manuscripts that have been published. Our intention is to disseminate key research findings to a broad audience, sharing the research briefs on multiple platforms to ensure wide reach, and work towards bridging the divide between academic research and the development of policy and practice. We aim to use these research briefs as a tool to summarise the key findings of recent studies, outline the implications for policy and practice in the South African context, and provide empirically based, practical, actionable information for policy makers, programme designers and implementers, practitioners, citizens and communities.

27 July 2022