A Mixed Methods Exploration of Young Women’s Agency and Mental Health during COVID-19 in Low-Income Communities in Mumbai, India

Marie A. Brault (), Melissa F. Peskin, Anastasia N. Jones, Amrita Saikia, Rinchen O. Bhutia, Sai Sammitha Cheruvu, Vaishali M. Jagtap, Rajendra Singh, Poornima Nair, Rajesh Vedanthan, Sten H. Vermund and Shubhada Maitra
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Marie A. Brault: Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
Melissa F. Peskin: Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Anastasia N. Jones: Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
Amrita Saikia: Jamsetji Tata School of Disaster Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai 400088, India
Rinchen O. Bhutia: Centre for Public Health, School of Health Systems Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai 400088, India
Sai Sammitha Cheruvu: Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA
Vaishali M. Jagtap: Independent Researcher, Mumbai 400074, India
Rajendra Singh: International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) Asia Office, New Delhi 110018, India
Poornima Nair: Health and Disability, Apnalaya, Mumbai 400071, India
Rajesh Vedanthan: Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
Sten H. Vermund: Department of Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
Shubhada Maitra: Centre for Health and Mental Health, School of Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai 400088, India

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 8, 1-13

Abstract: Introduction: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in India face additional health inequities compared to their male peers, as gender norms constrain agency for prevention and self-care. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns deepened health inequities and often worsened mental health, but the impacts on agency are unclear. This exploratory sequential mixed methods paper examined mental health and COVID-19 elements that exacerbated or mitigated adverse consequences for AGYW in low-income communities in Mumbai. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with AGYW (aged 15–25 years; N = 60) and adults (parents, healthcare providers, community-based organization representative; N = 30). We administered a structured survey to AGYW (N = 150) to assess health concerns, depression and anxiety symptoms (using the PHQ-8 and GAD-7 scales), and experiences during COVID-19. We analyzed qualitative data using the constant comparative approach in Atlas.ti, and quantitative data using R and SPSS. Results: Qualitative data revealed that AGYW faced stressors and had limited agency during lockdowns due to limited access to education, financial insecurity, and community violence. Quantitative data indicated that limited agency in the context of COVID-19 was significantly associated with depression and anxiety. Financial resources to address COVID-19 created new employment and leadership opportunities for AGYW to become COVID educators and preschool teachers; participation in these opportunities was associated with less anxiety. Discussion: Pandemic stress was difficult for low-income AGYW in Mumbai. Mitigating programs for COVID-19 control helped address acute needs and enable capabilities. Exploring similar themes among a broader population of youth can help design strategies and opportunities for young people in low-income communities during health emergencies.

Keywords: adolescent girls and young women; COVID-19; agency; mental health; financial insecurity; health emergency; India (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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