PANDEMIC PRODUCES EXTRA ANXIETY FOR GIRLS.

• Position: YOUR LIFE

Some 88% of girls say they are feeling high or medium levels of anxiety as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a 14-country survey by Plan International.

For the girls surveyed, aged 15-19, the most-prevalent fears concern their own health (33%) and the well-being of their families (40%). Twenty-six percent are worried about the loss of household income due to the pandemic.

"The survey highlights that health emergencies affect groups differently," says Tessie San Martin, president and CEO of Plan International USA. "Girls are at a higher risk of domestic violence and mental health issues, as social norms place the majority of unpaid domestic work and emotional labor in their hands. This is causing a real concern that girls will not return to school following the pandemic."

The...