Adolescence and young adulthood are critical periods for establishing lifelong health. These stages present significant opportunities for both preventative measures and early clinical interventions to foster positive health trajectories. However, the development of robust health information systems specifically designed to support adolescent health has notably lagged behind efforts focused on early childhood and adulthood. This disparity is particularly concerning given the global shift in health priorities towards non-communicable diseases, injuries, and mental health challenges, alongside the successes in reducing childhood mortality in many regions. Therefore, a comprehensive assessment of current health information sources for young people is urgently needed to ensure effective public health strategies.
To address this need, we utilize a conceptual framework aligned with the Series on Adolescent Health to derive key indicators and evaluate the availability of Comparable Data across different regions. These indicators are carefully selected based on their public health significance and their capacity to capture major health outcomes in young people. This includes health risk behaviors and states, crucial risk and protective factors, social role transitions relevant to health, and the utilization of essential health services. Definitions for these indicators are optimized to enhance international comparability, aiming to create a standardized approach for global monitoring and evaluation.
Despite these efforts to maximize data utility and ensure comparable data, our analysis reveals a significant gap: only seven out of the 25 identified indicators possess sufficient data coverage, reaching at least 50% of the world’s adolescent population. This limited data availability severely hinders our ability to understand and respond effectively to the diverse health needs of young people globally. The most concerning adolescent health profiles are concentrated in sub-Saharan Africa, where persistently high mortality rates from maternal and infectious causes remain a critical challenge. Furthermore, risks associated with non-communicable diseases are escalating rapidly, with alarming rates of tobacco use and overweight, coupled with inadequate levels of physical activity. These trends are disproportionately affecting adolescents residing in low- and middle-income countries, exacerbating existing health inequities.
The inadequacy of comparable data extends even to established global health priorities such as HIV infection and maternal mortality. For these critical areas, data sources remain incomplete for adolescents, impeding targeted interventions and progress monitoring within this specific age group. To overcome these limitations and strengthen adolescent health information systems worldwide, we propose a series of essential steps. These include fostering better coordination and utilization of existing data collected across countries, promoting greater harmonization of school-based surveys to ensure comparable data collection, and developing targeted strategies to reach socially marginalized youth populations who are often excluded from mainstream data collection efforts. Furthermore, we advocate for focused research to rigorously assess the validity and utility of these health indicators in diverse contexts. It is also crucial to prioritize adolescent health information within emerging global health initiatives, ensuring that the unique needs of this age group are adequately represented and addressed. Finally, we strongly recommend that every country commit to producing regular, comprehensive reports on the health of its adolescent population. This commitment to regular reporting and comparable data collection is essential for driving evidence-based policies and programs to improve adolescent health outcomes globally.
