Adolescent Health Risk Research Articles

The Effects of Father-Perpetration of Maltreatment on Adolescent Health Risk.

Maltreatment perpetrated by fathers may entail distinct characteristics and threats, and therefore differing effects from maltreatment perpetrated by mothers alone. This study examines the extent to which father perpetration of maltreatment is associated with variability in subsequent adolescent health outcomes relative to mother-alone maltreatment. A sample of youth (N = 377) with recently completed Child Protective Services investigations concerning reports of maltreatment attributed to fathers and/or mothers was drawn from the second National Survey of Child and Adolescent Well-being. Youth were 11-17 years old (M = 13.8, SD = 2) at 18-month follow-up. Predictor variables (baseline) included caseworker-reported perpetrator (father vs mother alone), maltreatment type and severity, and co-occurring risk factors (prior reports of maltreatment, caregiver substance use, serious mental health problems, and recent arrest or detention, and intimate partner violence). Outcome measures were youth-reported sexual risk behavior (the number of past-year sexual partners), substance use severity (use of illicit drugs other than marijuana, number of substances used, and CRAFFT raw scores), and parent-to-adolescent physical aggression (minor, moderate, and severe) at 18-month follow-up. Structural equation modeling assessed the effects of father perpetration on outcomes. Father perpetration was prospectively associated with more parent-to-adolescent aggression (β = 0.16, p = .034) and less sexual risk behavior (β = -0.17, p = .017) than mother-alone perpetration. Findings suggest protective effects of father perpetration relative to mother-alone perpetration on sexual risk taking but greater risk on further victimization by parents. Future research is needed to replicate findings and examine potential youth gender differences.

Parental School‐Involvement and Substance Use? A Novel Family‐Based Prevention Strategy for Latino Youth

ObjectiveTo examine the association of parental school involvement with reductions in adolescent substance initiation among Latino immigrant youth.BackgroundParental school involvement is an important determinant of children's academic achievement. Likewise, academic achievement is associated with multiple adolescent health risk behaviors. Little research has examined whether parental school involvement is associated with adolescent drug use, and no research has examined this link among Latino immigrant youth.MethodUsing a census of Latino students (N = 661; mean age = 13.1 years) in 12 urban middle schools, we used a multilevel model with zero‐inflated outcomes to test whether (a) parental school involvement is inversely associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use; (b) school‐level parental involvement affects individual‐level drug use; and (c) child gender moderates these associations.ResultsParental school involvement was negatively associated with lifetime prevalence of all substances and with increases in the age of first alcohol use. School‐level parental involvement was negatively associated with lifetime prevalence of substance use and age of first use for girls and marginally significant with boys.ConclusionParental school involvement is a promising target for prevention efforts to reduce early‐onset substance use.ImplicationsParental school involvement may address multiple negative outcomes in youth even for youth whose parents are relatively uninvolved, and may increase program dosage.

The impact of adverse childhood experiences on adolescent health risk indicators in a community sample.

Despite growing awareness of the high prevalence of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in community samples of adolescents, little work has examined the impact of ACEs on adolescence and well-being during this critical period of development. Much research has focused on retrospective reports of ACEs by adults and adult physical and mental health, finding that ACEs contribute to a range of diseases and mental health disorders in adulthood. This study examined differences in self-reported mental health, nonsuicidal self-injury, suicidality, violence, and substance use between adolescents without self-reported history of ACEs, youth with one self-reported ACE, and youth with self-reported multiple (2 or more) ACEs. The sample included 1,532 adolescents who completed the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey in their local high schools. By local consensus, this national survey was augmented with questions exploring prevalence of 11 commonly identified ACEs. After controlling for age, gender, and race, youth with multiple ACEs reported 3 to 15 times the odds of a range of negative health experiences. Findings indicate a serious burden of ACEs on adolescent social emotional well-being. This study did not include youth in out of school placements or who were not present the day the survey was given, and thus represent youth who may benefit from universal prevention and intervention programs. Universal screening of ACEs and health-related outcomes suggests that reporting multiple ACEs is strongly related to a wide range of mental health, violence, and substance use histories. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Childhood psychopathology mediates associations between childhood adversities and multiple health risk behaviours in adolescence: analysis using the ALSPAC birth cohort.

BackgroundChildhood adversity strongly predicts adolescent multiple health risk behaviours (MRBs) such as alcohol/tobacco use, self‐harm and physical inactivity, and both adversities and MRBs are associated with premature mortality and several chronic health conditions that are among the leading causes of death in adults. It is therefore important to understand the relationship between adversities and MRBs and what could mediate any association. The aim of this study was to explore whether childhood psychopathology mediates associations between adversities and MRBs.MethodsParticipants were young people in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) (N = 5,799). Using structural equation modelling, we explored the associations between adversities before 9 years and MRBs at age 16 years. We also explored potential mediating pathways through dimensional psychopathology measured by the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire subscales at age 12 years.ResultsThere were strong positive associations between adversities and MRBs (β .25, 95% CI 0.20, 0.31, p < .001) suggesting that each additional adversity is associated with a 0.25 increase in number of MRBs out of 13 total risk behaviours. We found robust evidence of mediating pathways from adversities through conduct problems (β .05, 95% CI 0.03, 0.06, p < .001), hyperactivity/inattention (β .02, 95% CI 0.01, 0.03, p < .001) and peer relationship problems (β −.02, 95% CI −0.03, −0.02, p < .001) to MRBs.ConclusionsIncreased conduct problems and hyperactivity/inattention appear to partially explain the relationship between adversities and MRBs. Peer relationship problems also appear to reduce the association between adversities and MRBs, and further research is needed to understand how to encourage peer connectivity without increasing risk of MRBs. These results suggest that interventions aimed at reducing MRBs among those exposed to childhood adversities could focus on prevention of behavioural problems.

Understanding adolescent health risk behaviour and socioeconomic position: A grounded theory study of UK young adults.

Health risk behaviours such as tobacco smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, drug use, unhealthy diet and unprotected sexual intercourse contribute to the global burden of non‐communicable diseases and are often initiated in adolescence. An individualistic focus on ‘health risk behaviours’ has resulted in behaviour change strategies that are potentially ineffective and increase inequalities. We conducted a grounded theory study of 25 young adults to increase the limited qualitative evidence base surrounding young people, health risk behaviours and socioeconomic inequalities. We found that health risk behaviours were perceived as class markers, manifesting as class stigma, leading some participants from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to employ strategies to avoid such behaviours. Peers and family were core constructs for understanding the relationship between health risk behaviours and socioeconomic life trajectories. However, individualism and choice were consistently expressed as the overriding narrative for understanding health risk behaviour and socioeconomic position during the transition to adulthood. The use of ‘personal responsibility’ discourse by young adults, we argue, highlights the need for a public health focus on achieving structural changes as opposed to individualised approaches to avoid reinforcing neoliberal ideologies that serve to marginalise and maintain social inequalities.

Initial engagement and persistence of health risk behaviors through adolescence: longitudinal findings from urban South Africa

BackgroundLittle is known about longitudinal patterns of adolescent health risk behavior initial engagement and persistence in low- and middle-income countries.MethodsBirth to Twenty Plus is a longitudinal birth cohort in Soweto-Johannesburg, South Africa. We used reports from Black African participants on cigarette smoking, alcohol, cannabis, illicit drug, and sexual activity initial engagement and adolescent pregnancy collected over 7 study visits between ages 11 and 18 y. We fit Kaplan-Meier curves to estimate behavior engagement or adolescent pregnancy, examined current behavior at age 18 y by age of first engagement, and performed a clustering analysis to identify patterns of initial engagement and their sociodemographic predictors.ResultsBy age 13 y, cumulative incidence of smoking and alcohol engagement were each > 21%, while the cumulative incidence of other behaviors and adolescent pregnancy were < 5%. By age 18 y (15 y for cannabis), smoking, alcohol, and sexual activity engagement estimates were each > 65%, cannabis and illicit drug engagement were each > 16%; adolescent pregnancy was 31%. Rates of engagement were higher among males. Current risk behavior activity at age 18 y was generally unrelated to age of initial engagement. We identified three clusters reflecting low, moderate, and high-risk patterns of initial risk behavior engagement. One-third of males and 17% of females were assigned to the high-risk cluster. Sociodemographic factors were not associated with cluster membership.ConclusionsAmong urban dwelling Black South Africans, risk behavior engagement across adolescence was common and clustered into distinct patterns of initial engagement which were unrelated to the sociodemographic factors assessed. Patterns of initial risk behavior engagement may inform the timing of primary and secondary public health interventions and support integrated prevention efforts that consider multiple behaviors simultaneously.

Clustering of multiple health risk factors among a sample of adolescents in Liberia: a latent class analysis

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are associated with modifiable health risk factors. There is a lack of evidence regarding clusters of health-related behaviours among school-going adolescents from sub-Saharan Africa. This study was conducted to identify clustering patterns of health risk factors (i.e. smoking tobacco, inadequate fruit intake, inadequate vegetable intake, physical inactivity, sedentary behaviour, anxiety and depression) and association with sociodemographic factors among school-going adolescents in Liberia. The 2017 Liberian Global School-based Student Health Survey on 2774 adolescents aged 11 years and above (52.5% females) sampled with a two-stage cluster sample design was used. Latent class analysis was used to generate the clusters and latent class regression assessed the associations between sociodemographic factors and the clusters. We identified three clusters labelled as (1) ‘low substance use, moderately active cluster’ (34.8%); (2) ‘inadequate fruit and vegetable cluster’ (48.9%) and (3) ‘risk taking cluster’ (16.3%)’. Compared to cluster 1, adolescent boys [AOR = 1.71, 1.29–2.27, p < 0.001], and those in grade 10–12 [AOR = 1.51, 1.13–2.02, p < 0.001] were more likely to belong to cluster 2. Participants aged 15 years and above [AOR = 0.60, 0.39–0.91, p = 0.018] were less likely to belong to cluster 2. Compared to cluster 1, adolescents aged 15 years and above [AOR = 3.58, 1.33–9.62, p = 0.011] and those with low socio-economic status [AOR = 1.83, 1.22–2.73, p = 0.003] were more likely to belong to cluster 3. These results underscore the need for interventions that address adolescent multiple health risk factors, especially considering sociodemographic differences.

Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes in children

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is an emerging health risk in obese children and adolescents. Both environmental (lack of physical activity, excess nutritional intake, sedentary lifestyle) and genetic factors contribute to this global epidemic. The growing prevalence of T2D in youth is also associated with a consistently increased incidence of metabolic and cardiovascular complications. Insulin resistance (IR), i.e., whole-body decreased glucose uptake in response to physiological insulin levels, determines impaired glucose homeostasis and it is recognized as cardinal trigger of T2D and cardiovascular disease in both adults and children. In particular, IR and beta-cell dysfunction lead to the persistent hyperglycemia which characterizes T2D. Indeed, both pathological states influence each other and presumably play a crucial, synergistic role in the pathogenesis of T2D, although the precise mechanisms are not completely understood. However, beta-cell dysfunction and IR induce impaired glucose metabolism, thus leading to the progression to T2D. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms correlated with the decline of beta-cell function and IR is crucial in order to control, prevent, and treat T2D in youth. This review focuses on the current knowledge regarding IR and T2D in children and adolescents and showcases interesting opportunities and stimulating challenges for the development of new preventative approaches and therapeutic strategies for young patients with T2D.

Parent-Adolescent Dyads' Efficacy, Coping, Depression, and Adolescent Health Risks

BackgroundEfficacy beliefs have been suggested to protect children from many risky health behaviors. However, the relationships between parent-child dyads’ coping and efficacy beliefs are not clear. Therefore, this study examined the relationships between parent-child dyads’ coping patterns and their association with collective family efficacy, adolescent filial efficacy, parenting efficacy, family satisfaction, depressive symptoms, and parents’ perceived adolescent health risks. MethodsGuided by the Bandura’s efficacy framework, we surveyed 158 parent-adolescent dyads from the midwestern U.S. on coping, collective family efficacy, adolescent filial efficacy, family satisfaction, parenting efficacy, depressive symptoms, and parent perceived adolescent health risks. Descriptive statistics, bivariate correlations, multiple regression, and path modeling were performed. FindingsParent-adolescent dyads spiritual coping was positively correlated, but other coping subscales were not. The path models revealed that adolescents collective family and filial efficacy were positively related to their overall coping. Adolescent family satisfaction both directly and indirectly protected adolescents from depressive symptoms. Parents' parenting efficacy and family satisfaction were directly and indirectly associated with lower parents' perceived adolescent health risks. DiscussionIt seems that parents' constructive coping mechanisms were more collective-focused, while adolescents' coping strategies were more individual-focused (venting and humor). Promoting parent-adolescent dyads' efficacy beliefs could enhance their coping strategies and minimize depressive symptoms and adolescent health risks. Application to practiceadolescents' collective coping mechanisms (self-reliance and family problem solving) can be promoted within the family context. In fact, when helping adolescents develop family problem solving skills, it is important to consider parents’ ability/efficacy and their emotional status.

Emotional and behavioural pathways to adolescent substance use and antisocial behaviour: results from the UK Millennium Cohort Study.

This study examines the emotional and behavioural pathways to adolescent substance use and antisocial behaviour. Using a sample of 17,223 participants from the UK Millennium Cohort Study, we applied parallel-process growth mixture modelling on emotional and behavioural symptoms in those aged 3-14 and employed latent class analysis to identify patterns of substance use and antisocial behaviours at age 14. We then performed a multinomial regression analysis to explore the association between emotional and behavioural trajectories and patterns of adolescent substance use and antisocial behaviours, including sociodemographic, family, and maternal factors. We found five trajectories of emotional and behavioural symptoms and four classes of adolescence substance use and antisocial behaviour. Children and adolescents in the 'high externalising and internalising' and 'moderate externalising' trajectories were more likely to belong to any problematic behaviour class, especially the 'poly-substance use and antisocial behaviours' class. Inclusion in the 'moderate externalising and internalising (childhood limited)' class was associated with higher odds of belonging to the 'alcohol and tobacco' class. These associations remained significant after adjusting for important sociodemographic and contextual factors, such as maternal substance use, poverty, and parental status. Interventions on adolescent health promotion and risk behaviour prevention need to address the clustering of substance use and antisocial behaviour as well as the significant influence of early and chronic internalising and externalising symptoms on the aetiology of these behaviours.

Parent-Child Dyad's Collective Family Efficacy and Risky Adolescent Health Behaviors.

Parents play an influential role in their children's health behaviors. Research has shown that individuals' efficacy beliefs (personal and collective efficacy) are closely related to their behaviors and can be modified to improve health outcomes. Existing evidence confirms the effect of self-efficacy on various health outcomes. However, the effects of parent-child dyads' collective efficacy beliefs on adolescents' health outcomes are less clear. Bandura and his colleagues postulated that family members' perceived collective family efficacy plays an important role in their psychological well-being and possibly their health behaviors. However, few study results have delineated the relationship between collective family efficacy and risky adolescent health behaviors. This study was conducted to examine the relationships among parent-adolescent dyads' collective family efficacy, satisfaction with family functioning, depressive symptoms, personal efficacy beliefs, and adolescent risky health behaviors. This cross-sectional study surveyed 158 parent-adolescent dyads from the Midwestern region of the United States. Linear regression and path modeling were conducted to examine the influences of dyads' personal and collective efficacy beliefs on the adolescents' negative attitudes toward healthy lifestyle practices, injury prevention, safe sex practices, substance use prevention, and depressive symptoms. Risky adolescent health behaviors were strongly correlated with higher depressive symptoms. The dyads' personal and collective efficacy beliefs emerged as protective factors for adolescent health risks directly and indirectly through depressive symptoms. Both adolescents' and parents' perceived collective family efficacy buffered the effect of parent-adolescent dyads' depressive symptoms on adolescent risky health behaviors with significant direct and indirect effects. Adolescents' family efficacy, satisfaction with family functioning, and filial efficacy significantly mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and risky health behaviors. Parent-adolescent dyads' perceived collective family efficacy buffers adolescents from depressive symptoms and risky health behaviors. This finding suggests that family interventions should not only address adolescents' personal-level efficacy but also their collective aspects of efficacy beliefs within the family context.

VIOLENCE-RELATED BEHAVIORS AMONG SCHOOL GOING ADOLESCENTS IN PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Violence among adolescents is a significant public health issue. The focus was on school-going adolescents because of the life-long negative impact at an individual level both for the perpetrator and victim. Besides, it increases the costs to provide health, welfare, and criminal justice as well as decreases general productivity at the community level. The study aims to determine the prevalence of violence-related behavior, characteristics of both victims and perpetrators, in addition to inter and intrapersonal factors associated with violence-related behaviors. A study was carried out in 2013, which involved all upper secondary school students (aged 16 to 17 years). It was a part of the Malaysian Adolescent Health Risk Behavior (MyAHRB) study, which was conducted in 11 states in Peninsular Malaysia. Standardized, validated questionnaires were used for data collection. The prevalence of violence-related behaviors was 22.4%, and this was higher among male students as compared to females (29.1% vs. 16.3%). Multivariable analysis revealed that the odds of violence-related behaviour increased among males, Malay race, drug use, smoking, had exposure to sex, which sometimes and always felt lonely and had attempted suicide. Agreeable to ensure that their lifestyles do not transgress religious limit and belief was significantly protective. This study provides evidence for a targeted approach to combat violence-related behaviors among adolescents.

Cyberbullying and post-traumatic stress symptoms in UK adolescents

ObjectiveCyberbullying involvement carries mental health risks for adolescents, although post-traumatic stress (PTS) symptoms have not received strong attention in the UK. This study aimed to assess the overlap between cyber...

Studies on Male Adolescent Health-Risk Behaviors in East Kassala Locality - Kassala State, Sudan

Adolescent health risk behaviors are becoming a serious health care as adolescents engage in health-compromising behaviors at a high frequency in several crucial domains. One domain involves tobacco, alcohol, and illicit drug use. This is a cross section study covered 405 adolescents recruited randomly from Kassala locality, Kassala state, Sudan 2016, data was collected via closed ended standardized questionnaires. Pre testing was done to ensure quality survey instruments and fieldwork procedures were conducted. The fieldwork was coordinated by the Research Team Members, who will also provide the overall supervision during fieldwork to ensure quality and consistency among the teams. Ten data collectors was carrying out the fieldwork. Adolescent participating in the study showed variations in information about behavioral and psychological changes associated with adolescence, concerning the knowledge of the male adolescences regarding the associated with health changes with adolescences, about 89.5% knew those change and effects in general and 44% of them thought that the changes are physical while 25.2% thought that these changes are Psychological &amp; emotional.

Is Mental Health Competence in Childhood Associated With Health Risk Behaviors in Adolescence? Findings From the UK Millennium Cohort Study

PurposePromoting positive mental health, particularly through enhancing competencies (such as prosocial behaviors and learning skills), may help prevent the development of health risk behaviors in adolescence and thus support future well-being. Few studies have examined how mental health competencies in childhood are associated with adolescent health risk behaviors, which could inform preventative approaches. MethodsUsing UK Millennium Cohort Study data (n = 10,142), we examined how mental health competence (MHC) measured at the end of elementary school (11 years) is associated with self-reported use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, alcohol, illegal drugs, antisocial behavior, and sexual contact with another young person at age 14 years. A latent measure of MHC was used, capturing aspects of prosocial behavior and learning skills, categorized as high MHC, high–moderate MHC, moderate MHC, and low MHC. Logistic and multinomial regression estimated odds ratios and relative risk ratios for binary and categorical outcomes, respectively, before and after adjusting for confounders. Weights accounted for sample design and attrition and multiple imputation for item missingness. ResultsThose with low, moderate, or high-moderate MHC at age 11 years were more likely to have taken part in health risk behaviors at age 14 years compared with those with high MHC. The largest associations were seen for low MHC with binge drinking (relative risk ratio: 1.6 [95% confidence interval: 1.1–2.4]), having tried cigarettes (odds ratio: 2.2 [95% confidence interval: 1.6-3.1]) and tried illegal drugs (odds ratio: 2.0 [95% confidence interval: 1.3-3.1) after adjusting for confounders (which attenuated results but largely maintained significant findings). ConclusionsMHC in late childhood is associated with health risk behaviors in midadolescence. Interventions that increase children's MHC may support healthy development during adolescence, with the potential to improve health and well-being through to adulthood.

Vulnerable Children in a Dual Epidemic.

Two epidemics-Covid-19 and opioid use disorder (OUD) -are creating short- and long-term mental and physical health risks for vulnerable children and adolescents. Information about the risks to children from exposure to the coronavirus is still fragmentary, but even many healthy children are not getting appropriate health care, such as vaccinations or monitoring of developmental milestones during the Covid-19 pandemic. Children living in poverty are at heightened risk. Youngsters who are already dealing with OUD in their families-2.2 million as of 2017-face serious consequences stemming from trauma and stress. Although not officially designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as "adverse childhood experiences" ("ACEs"), these situations meet the CDC's criteria for inclusion, such as death or separation from a parent. It is important to recognize and meet the needs of all these children now and not just when the long-term consequences become apparent.

Correlation analysis between adolescent cognitive ability and health risk behaviors

Objective To explore the status of adolescents' health risk behaviors, relationship between cognitive ability and health risk behaviors, and provide an empirical reference for reducing the occurrence and early prevention of health risk behaviors among adolescents. Methods Samples were extracted by hierarchical, multi-stage, probability and scale proportional (PPS) methods. There were 112 schools randomly selected from 28 county-level regions (county, district, city), and 19 487 students were investigated by baseline survey, a follow-up study was conducted among 8 636 students during 2014-2015. Descriptive statistical methods of using 2 test and t test, and logistic multivariate regression analysis were used to analyze the relationship between cognitive abilities and healthy risk behaviors. Results The reported rate of a healthy risk behavior was 20.77%, and the incidence of more than one type of health risk behavior was 16.03%. The student’s cognitive ability standardized score was (0.33±0. 82). The average score of cognitive ability of adolescents with healthy risk behavior was 0.14, which was lower than the average score of cognitive ability of adolescents without healthy risk behaviors (0.43). Boys, having rural household registeration, non-residential schools, and parents with low education levels adolescents were more likely to be involved in health behavior risks. There was a significant correlation between adolescent cognitive ability and healthy risk behavior ( OR = 0.67, P <0.01). Conclusion The current status of adolescent health risk behaviors is worrying. The cognitive ability has a significant impact on health risk behaviors. It is recommended to use the cognitive ability of adolescents as a starting point to prevent and reduce the occurrence of adolescent health risk behaviors. 【摘要】目的 探究青少年健康危险行为现状及其与认知能力的关系，为减少青少年健康危险行为的发生及早期预 防提供实证参考。 方法 采用分层次、多阶段、概率与规模成比例（PPS)的方法，从全国28个县级单位（县、区、市）随机抽 取112所学校，2013—2014学年基线调査19 487名学生，2014—2015学年追踪调査8 636名初中学生。运用妒检验、《检 验的描述性统计方法，以及Logistic多因素回归分析认知能力与健康危险行为的关系。 结果 学生存在1种健康危险行为 的报告率为20.77%，1种以上的健康危险行为报告率为16.03%。学生认知能力标准化得分为（0.33±0.82)分。有健康危 险行为的青少年认知能力标准化得分均分为0.14分，没有健康危险行为青少年的得分为0.43分。男性、农村户口、非住 校、父母受教育程度低的青少年更容易发生健康危险行为。Logistic回归分析显示，青少年认知能力与其健康危险行为的 相关有统计学意义（ OR = 0.67， P <0.01)。 结论 青少年健康危险行为现状堪忧，认知能力对健康危险行为的影响显著。建 议以青少年的认知能力为出发点，预防和减少青少年健康危险行为的发生。

Development and Evaluation of White Button Mushroom Based Snacks

Snacks are different from meals in terms of size, nutritional content, hunger, and thirst sensation before and after the event. Considering the nutritive value, available snacks in the market are rich in carbohydrates and fats; being less in dietary fibre and functional components such as antioxidants, polyphenolic components which leads to extreme health risks in children and adolescents. Protein, one of the important components required during the growing years is lacking in snack foods, therefore in the present study an attempt was made to develop protein and fibre rich snacks using mushroom as the major component. Two mushroom snack products such as mushroom tikki and stuffed mushroom were developed using white button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus), spice mixture, and other ingredients. For the processing of the snack products, technologies such as blanching and in-pack pasteurization were used. The developed products were subjected to proximate analysis; mineral and vitamin profile; functional components; chemical components; organoleptic evaluation and microbial analysis for safety. Mushroom tikki had moisture 40.24%, carbohydrate 17.5%, protein 10.7%, fat 20.12%, fibre 7.91% and ash 3.54%. Stuffed mushroom had moisture 66.11%, carbohydrate 14.5%, protein 4.05%, fat 6.82%, fibre 6.65%, and ash 1.87%. Both the products were good in all the sensory properties and were found microbially safe. The developed snack products, as were rich in protein, dietary fibre, antioxidants and phenolic components helps in the consumption of balanced nutrients in children and adolescents.

Adolescence and Gender Equality in Health

Adolescence and Gender Equality in Health

Design and field methods of the ARISE Network Adolescent Health Study.

The ARISE Network Adolescent Health Study is an exploratory, community-based survey of 8075 adolescents aged 10-19 in 9 communities in 7 countries: Burkina Faso, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. Communities were selected opportunistically and existing population cohorts maintained by health and demographic surveillance systems (HDSSs). The study is intended to serve as a first round of data collection for African adolescent cohorts, with the overarching goal of generating community-based data on health-related behaviours and associated risk factors in adolescents, to identify disease burdens and health intervention opportunities. Household-based sampling frames were used in each community to randomly select eligible adolescents (aged 10-19years). Data were collected between July 2015 and December 2017. Consenting participants completed face-to-face interviews with trained research assistants using a standardised questionnaire, which covered physical activity, cigarette and tobacco use, substance and drug use, mental health, sexual behaviours and practices, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy, food security and food diversity, teeth cleaning and hand washing, feelings and friendship, school and home activities, physical attacks and injuries, health care, health status assessment and life satisfaction, as well as media and cell phone use and socio-demographic and economic background characteristics. Results from this multi-community study serve to identify major adolescent health risks and disease burdens, as well as opportunities for interventions and improvements through policy changes.