拉丁美洲经济委员会-联合国在新冠疫情流行病背景下对拉丁美洲和加勒比青年的调查（英）-2021.6-64页_3mb

Summary of the United Nations Survey on Latin American and Caribbean Youth within the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Core Content

This document presents the findings of a United Nations survey conducted in Latin America and the Caribbean in May and June 2020, targeting young people aged 15 to 29. The survey was organized by the Regional Collaborative Platform for Latin America and the Caribbean, with the Working Group on Youth comprising multiple UN agencies. The purpose was to understand how young people were affected by the pandemic and to identify their concerns and needs.

The survey was conducted using an online form with 49 questions, and the sample consisted of 7,751 participants from 39 countries and territories in the region. The results are aggregated and anonymous, with no physical or mental risk to participants. The survey highlights the challenges and changes faced by youth in terms of information, employment, education, health, and social dynamics.

Main Findings

I. Survey Technical Data

• Sample Characteristics:
  • The survey included 7,751 participants, with the majority from South America (59%), followed by Central America and Mexico (35%), and the Caribbean (6%).
  • The sample is evenly distributed across three age groups: 33% aged 15–19, 38% aged 20–24, and 28% aged 25–29.
  • 69% of respondents are women, 30% are men, and 1% identify with other gender categories.
  • Educational levels are mixed, with 31% having secondary education, 28% having university education (undergraduate and postgraduate), and 10% having primary or no education.
  • The majority (91%) are single, 6% are in a relationship, 3% are married, and less than 1% are widowed or separated.
  • 75% live in urban areas, 15% in suburban areas, and 10% in rural areas.
  • 95% of respondents do not have children, 4% have one child, and 2% have two or more.
  • 14% identify as LGBTQ, 8% as Afrodescendant, 9% as indigenous, 2% as migrants or refugees, 1% as persons with disabilities, and 1% living with HIV/AIDS.

II. Information, Contingency Measures, and Access to Food

• Information Access:

  • 93% of respondents feel informed about the risks and prevention measures of COVID-19.
  • The primary sources of information are television and social networks.
  • Only 6% mention lacking information, and less than 1% have not received any.

• Government Response:

  • 38% have a positive opinion of the government's response, 32% consider it regular, and 30% evaluate it negatively.
  • Only 20% of households have received support from government programs, and 20% are unaware of any such programs.

• Protective Gear and Food Support:

  • 90% of young people access protective gear (masks, gloves, etc.) through their own resources.
  • 20% have received food support (vouchers or pantries), mostly from the government (75%) or other organizations (25%).
  • Food shortages are perceived by one-third of respondents, with indigenous (45%), migrant (44%), and persons with disabilities (42%) most affected.
  • Rural areas report higher rates of food shortage perception (33%) compared to urban (13%) and suburban (19%) areas.

III. Employment, Education, and Connectivity

• Employment:

  • 16% of respondents have lost their job, had their contract suspended, or experienced reduced working hours.
  • 25% are employed (part-time or full-time), with the majority in the 25–29 age group.
  • 17% are neither employed nor studying, with 47% of them aged 25–29.
  • Only 2% perform full-time unpaid care and domestic work.

• Education:

  • 90% of students continue their educational activities during the pandemic.
  • 47% find online classes demanding, 36% find them manageable, and 17% find them not very challenging.
  • 62% have a stable Internet connection, 30% have a poor connection, and 8% have no access.
  • Computer access is limited, with 61% having a personal computer, 28% using a shared one, and 11% having no access.
  • Rural areas face more challenges in access to computers and Internet compared to urban areas.

IV. Health

• Mental Health:

  • 52% of respondents report increased stress, and 47% experience anxiety or panic attacks during quarantine.
  • Women (54%) and non-binary individuals (68%) report higher stress levels than men (45%).

• Health Access Challenges:

  • Fear of discrimination is a major barrier to accessing health services (6.8%).
  • Persons with disabilities and LGBTQ youth are more likely to feel discrimination.
  • 3.2% of young people have stopped accessing free contraceptives or medical attention due to fears of contracting COVID-19.

• Desired Health Services:

  • Psychological support is the most requested service (54% in urban areas, 46% in rural areas).
  • 51% of indigenous youth request nutritional support, compared to 43% of non-indigenous.
  • 54% of persons with disabilities and 49% of LGBTQ youth want medicines delivered at home.
  • 24% of LGBTQ youth seek sexual and reproductive health advice, compared to 16% of others.
  • Telemedicine is of interest to 47% of persons with disabilities.

V. Household and Time Use

• Quarantine Impact:
  • 90% of respondents stayed at home, and 80% spent the pandemic with their families.
  • The pandemic has increased free time, especially for those not working or studying.
  • Time spent on housework has increased for most young people.
  • 10% of respondents had to care for dependents due to quarantine.

VI. Community and Gender

• Gender-Based Violence:

  • 60% of respondents believe that gender-based violence has increased during the pandemic.
  • 25% consider government responses to gender-based violence to be poor or fair.
  • Only 25% of respondents feel they have the means to seek help.

• Community Dynamics:

  • 50% of respondents report no change in neighborhood security, while 50% note an increase in solidarity and empathy.

VII. Participation

• Youth Involvement:
  • Youth involvement in pandemic-related actions is limited.
  • Those who participate do so mainly through online volunteering and donations.
  • 22% of volunteers are in the psychosocial support field, while food packaging and document preparation are also common.

VIII. Prospective

• Post-Pandemic Concerns:
  • The main concerns include family and personal financial issues, loss of loved ones, and instability in employment and education.
  • 50% of respondents have changed their consumption habits, prioritizing purchases that are most important for their well-being.
  • Only 16% of respondents expect to return to their previous routine without changes, while 43% plan to avoid unnecessary transportation.

IX. Conclusions

• The survey highlights the significant impact of the pandemic on Latin American and Caribbean youth, particularly in terms of employment, education, health, and access to resources.
• Despite being informed about the pandemic, many young people lack access to government support and essential resources such as protective gear and food.
• Connectivity and access to computers are major challenges, especially in rural areas, which affects both education and work.
• Mental health and fear of discrimination are critical barriers to accessing health services.
• The pandemic has altered consumption habits and increased free time, but also raised concerns about future stability and routines.