The Violence Against Children Survey Mental Health measure includes 5 items from the National Baseline Survey on Life Experiences of Adolescents (NBLSEA, 2011). This measure is designed to assess frequency of feelings of emotional distress, depression, and suicidality. Violence Against Children Surveys are nationally representative household surveys of children and young adults aged 13 to 24 years. They are designed to measure the prevalence and circumstances surrounding emotional, physical, and sexual violence against males and females in childhood (before age 18). Navigational aspects (i.e., skip-out patterns and next question sequences) have not been included, but can be viewed in the original questionnaire available here
Geographies Tested: Zimbabwe
Populations Included: Female, Male
Age Range: Adolescents, Adults, Children
1. Now I would like to ask a few questions about your health and how you felt in the last 30 days. In the last 30 days, would you say that in general your health is excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor?
Response Options:
Excellent - 1
Very good - 2
Good - 3
Fair - 4
Poor - 5
Don’t know - 88
Declined to answer - 98
2. About how often during the past 30 days did you feel nervous, tense, or worried? Would you say none of the time, some of the time, most of the time or all of the time?
3. During the past 30 days, about how often did you feel so sad or unhappy that nothing could cheer you up? (Interviewer if necessary prompt: none of the time, some of the time, most of the time or all of the time?)
Response Options:
None of the time - 1
Some of the time - 2
Most of the time - 3
All of the time - 4
Don’t know - 88
Declined to answer - 98
4. The next two questions ask about things that have ever happened to you. Have you ever had thoughts of ending your life?
5. Have you ever made an attempt to take your own life?
Response Options:
Yes - 1
No - 2
Don’t know - 88
Declined to answer - 98
Not Applicable
Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and Collaborating Center for Operational Research and Evaluation (CCORE). (2013). National Baseline Survey on Life Experiences of Adolescents, 2011. http://www.togetherforgirls.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/UNICEF_NBSLEA-Report-Zimbabwe-23-10-13.pdf
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