Adolescent health and well-being in sub-Saharan Africa: Strengthening knowledge base and research capacity through a collaborative multi-country school-based study

AuthorSachin Shinde
AuthorRamadhani Abdallah Noor
AuthorMary Mwanyika-Sando
AuthorMosa Moshabela
AuthorAmare W. Tadesse
AuthorHuda Sherfi
AuthorAlain Vandormael
AuthorTara Young
AuthorAmani Tinkasimile
AuthorRoisin Drysdale
AuthorTill Baernighausen
Date Accessioned2024-12-07T05:04:46Z
Date Available2024-12-07T05:04:46Z
Date of Publication2023
AbstractIn Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), adolescents make up around one-quarter of the population who are growing up in a rapidly urbanizing environment, with its associated risks and benefits, including impacts on health, psychosocial development, nutrition, and education. However, research on adolescents' health and well-being in SSA is limited. The ARISE (African Research, Implementation Science and Education) Network's Adolescent Health and Nutrition Study is an exploratory, school-based study of 4988 urban adolescents from five countries: Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, South Africa, Sudan, and Tanzania. A multistage random sampling strategy was used to select the schools and adolescents. Adolescent boys and girls aged 10-15 years were interviewed using a standardized questionnaire by trained enumerators. The questionnaire covered multiple domains including demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, water, sanitation and hygiene practices, antimicrobial resistance, physical activity, dietary behaviours, socioemotional development, educational outcomes, media use, mental health, and menstrual hygiene (only for girls). Additionally, a desk review of health and school meal policies and programs and a qualitative investigation into health and food environments in schools were conducted with students, administrators, and food vendors. In this paper, we describe the study design and questionnaire, present profiles of young adolescents who participated in the study, and share field experiences and lessons learned for future studies. We expect that this study along with other ARISE Network projects will be a first step toward understanding young people's health risks and disease burdens, identifying opportunities for interventions and improving policies, as well as developing potential research capacities on adolescent health and well-being in the SSA region.
Identifier URIhttps://resourcerepository.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/handle/apurr/966
PublisherMatern. Child Nutr.
Source URI/URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13411
KeywordmHealth
KeywordTechnology adoption
KeywordCommunity health workers
KeywordCommCare
TitleAdolescent health and well-being in sub-Saharan Africa: Strengthening knowledge base and research capacity through a collaborative multi-country school-based study
Item TypeArticle
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