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' 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. See study website for more information: <a href="https://vocescontralaviolencia.org">https://vocescontralaviolencia.org</a>

<p>Two rounds of data have been collected. A total of 55,692 completed the first round of the survey and 168,407 new participants completed the second round. 2,556 participants from the first round completed a follow-up survey during the second round, these form our cohort.</p>