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The aim of this study was to compare bibliometric indicators of scientific productivity in physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Down syndrome (DS) in the PubMed database. A bibliometric study was conducted for the last 5 years (2017 to 2021). The data collected for each article were: year of publication, language of publication, country, journal name, and type of paper. The results showed that there was higher scientific productivity in the population with DS (20 studies) relative to their counterparts with ASD (31 studies). The language of publication in both cases was English. There were 10 countries that published on PA in ASD and 14 countries that published on DS. Overall, the greatest interest in publishing on PA in children and adolescents with ASD was in North America (6 studies), followed by Asia (5 studies) and Europe (4 studies). In the DS population it was in Europe (13 studies), North America (9 studies) and South America (4 studies). Nineteen journals were identified that published in the ASD population and 29 journals in DS. Six experimental studies were identified in ASD and 7 in DS. There was a higher scientific productivity with original studies. There was a positive trend of increasing scientific productivity over the years in both populations. We suggest the need to promote research on PA in both populations, regardless of the type of study, as it is an indicator of overall health status.

This mini review explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. We conducted a rapid review of the literature across three databases, with a particular focus on the African continent. Few studies have specifically focused on adolescents in Africa and this paper contributes to this paucity of research. Findings revealed the unintended consequences of the pandemic. Studies across several countries showed that the respective lockdownmeasures restricted adolescents' access to sexual and reproductive health services. The literature also showed increases in adolescent pregnancies during the lockdown, along with increases in reports of sexual violence against adolescents. We conclude this paper by offering recommendations to address these unintended consequences and potentially improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health in African communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acceptability has become a key consideration in the development, evaluation and implementation of health and social interventions. This commentary paper advances key learnings and recommendations for future intervention acceptability research with young people in Africa, aimed at supporting the achievement of developmental goals. It relates findings of the adolescent acceptability work conducted within the Accelerate Hub, since mid 2020, to broader inter-disciplinary literatures and current regional health and social priorities. We argue that, in order to strengthen the quality and applied value of future acceptability work with young people, we need to do three things better. First, we need to consolidate prior findings on acceptability, within and across intervention types, to inform responses to current public health and social challenges and further the conceptual work in this area. Second, we need to better conceptualise acceptability research with young people, by developing stronger conceptual frameworks that define acceptability and its constructs, and predict its relationship with intervention engagement. Third, we need to better contextualise findings by considering acceptability data within a broader social and political context, which in turn can be supported by better conceptualisation. In this paper we describe contributions of our work to each of these three inter-connected objectives, and suggest ways in which they may be taken forward by researchers and practitioners. These include aggregating evidence from past interventions to highlight potential barriers and enablers to current responses in priority areas; involving key actors earlier and more meaningfully in acceptability research; further developing and testing behavioural models for youth acceptability; and working collaboratively across sectors towards programmatic guidance for better contextualisation of acceptability research. Progress in this field will require an inter-disciplinary approach that draws from various literatures such as socio-ecological theory, political economy analysis, health behaviour models and literature on participatory research approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adolescent mental health issues are emerging as a significant public health concern across many low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa. This study aims to evaluate the aggregated prevalence and contributing risk factors of mental health distress among adolescents in Africa. Methodology: A comprehensive search of PubMed, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and HINARI databases was conducted to identify relevant articles on the prevalence and risk factors associated with mental health distress among African adolescents, published up to December 2023. The quality of the selected studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Heterogeneity among the studies was evaluated using the I² statistical test. Potential publication bias was assessed through a funnel plot and Egger's statistical test. This systematic review was registered with PROSPERO under reference number CRD42023494665. Results: Eighteen studies encompassing data from 37,016 adolescents were included in the analysis. The overall prevalence of mental health distress among adolescents in Africa was found to be 27.34% (95% CI: 23.18–31.50). The occurrence of mental health distress is observed in older adolescents at a prevalence of 29.44% (95% CI: 23.26–35.66) and in younger adolescents at 24.73% (95% CI: 11.96–37.51). Significant risk factors identified included bullying victimization, with an odds ratio (POR) of 1.30 (95% CI: 1.16, 1.46), and experiencing hunger, with an odds ratio (POR) of 2.10 (95% CI: 1.13, 3.91). Conclusion: The findings indicate a high prevalence of mental health distress among adolescents in Africa, highlighting the widespread impact on this demographic. These results underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to prevent and address mental health distress among adolescents. Further research on a global scale is essential to develop effective prevention and treatment strategies tailored to this age group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We aim to add to the literature on suicidality in Africa by estimating the prevalence and exploring the behavioural correlates of suicide attempts among in-school adolescents in Benin City, Nigeria. Utilising a cross-sectional design, participants were a random, stratified sample of students who filled out questionnaires to identify various determinants of suicidal attempts among adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19. We used bivariate and multivariate analyses to determine associations between suicide attempts and other variables. A total of 725 adolescents completed the instruments. Over 13.5% reported suicidal ideation, and approximately 10.5% reported that they had attempted suicide in the last year. At the multivariate level, adolescents who attempted suicide had significantly greater odds of being anxious, lonely, or victims of bullying behaviour. Individuals experiencing persistently sad moods, suicidal thoughts and plans were significantly associated with suicide attempts. Suicidal ideation and attempts are prevalent among adolescents. Assessment of anxiety, loneliness, and persistently sad moods as risk factors for suicide attempts among adolescents is vital. Indicators of bullying appear to be particularly relevant to the risk of suicide attempts among adolescents and should be given attention as part of risk assessments. We suggest that bullying prevention programs and early identification of the risk factors be a vital part of strategies for initiating and maintaining public health interventions pitched toward suicide prevention in Nigeria and Africa. This study will, in addition, provide a baseline for future studies on suicidal behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: HIV remains a leading cause of death for adolescents and young people aged 10–24 years. HIV prevention requires multisectoral approaches that target adolescents and young people, addressing HIV risk pathways (e.g., transactional sex, gender-based violence, and school attendance) through bundled interventions that combine economic strengthening, health capabilities, and gender equality education. However, best practices are unknown because evidence on multisectoral programming targeted to adolescents and combining these components has not been systematically reviewed. Methods: We conducted a systematic review to summarize the evidence on bundled interventions combining health and economic strengthening components for adolescents and young people and their effects on HIV/STI incidence and risk factors. We included studies from Africa published between 2005 and 2023, combining at least one economic strengthening and one health component, directed toward adolescents and young people aged 10–24 years. Included studies measured programmatic impacts on primary outcomes: HIV and STI incidence/prevalence; and mediators as secondary outcomes: sexual behaviours, sexual and reproductive health, school attendance, health-seeking behaviours, and violence. We conducted key word searches in PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science, imported titles/abstracts from the initial search, and reviewed them using the inclusion criteria. Full texts of selected articles were reviewed and information was extracted for analysis. Findings from the full texts identified were summarized. Results: We reviewed 58 studies, including 43 quantitative studies and 15 qualitative studies, evaluating 26 unique interventions. A majority of studies reviewed were conducted in Eastern and Southern Africa. Interventions reviewed showed a greater number of significant results in improving economic outcomes; mental health and psychosocial outcomes; sexual and reproductive health knowledge and services utilization; and HIV prevention knowledge and testing. They showed fewer significant results in improving outcomes related to HIV incidence/prevalence; sexual risk behaviours; gender-based violence; gender attitudes; education; STI incidence, prevalence and testing; and sexual debut. Conclusions: Our review demonstrated the potential for bundled, multisectoral interventions for preventing HIV and facilitating safe transitions to adulthood. Findings have implications for designing HIV sensitive programmes on a larger scale, including how interventions may need to address multiple strata of the social ecological model to achieve success in the prevention of HIV and related pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Child marriage remains a prevalent issue in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) despite global declines. Girls are disproportionately affected, facing health risks, limited education, and restricted decision-making power. We aim to provide insights for child marriage prevalence across LMIC from 1990 to 2020, with a focus on sexual violence and early sexual intercourse for public health policy interventions. Methods: This study used World Bank datasets to assess progress in addressing child marriage in LMIC countries. Statistical analyses, including trend analysis and compound annual growth rate (CAGR), were conducted to evaluate indicators of first marriage, sexual violence, and sexual intercourse. Countries with sufficient data were categorized based on prevalence rates and trends, and detailed analysis focused on significant indicators. Results: While significant reductions were observed in the prevalence of child marriage before the age of 15 and 18 and early sexual intercourse in most countries, few countries show increasing trends, and others could not demonstrate statistical trends due to data limitations, such as scarcity of data for boys. Overall, many countries showed a decline in sexual violence and early sexual intercourse before the age of 15, but some exhibited increasing trends. For instance, Zambia and Senegal showed a decreasing trend of sexual violence, while Nigeria exhibited an increasing trend. Notably, Uganda, Cameroon, and Sierra Leone for women, and Namibia, Zambia, and Kenya for men, experienced substantial decline in early sexual intercourse. Conclusion: There is a decline in child marriage, sexual violence, and early sexual intercourse in most countries independent from the income group. Only a few countries show slight increasing trends. The improvements confirm that policies that address education, employment, and deep-rooted gender inequality at the societal level seem to be effective and help reach the SDG. However, better data are needed to enhance the understanding of the development of child marriage in these countries to improve the effectiveness of policy intervention. Therefore, we recommend that policymakers not only include existing evidence that continues progress but also increase and improve the monitoring of relevant indicators. Plain Language Summary: Child marriage remains a prevalent issue despite global declines, particularly affecting girls who suffer from health risks, lower education, and restricted decision-making power. However, little is known about boys in this context. This study aims to examine We aim to provide insights for child marriage prevalence across LMIC from 1990 to 2020, with a focus on sexual violence and early sexual intercourse for public health policy interventions. To achieve this, we assessed progress in addressing child marriage in LMIC countries using World Bank datasets. Through statistical analyses, including trend analysis and linear regression, we evaluated various indicators. Countries with sufficient data were categorized based on prevalence and trends. The results revealed significant reductions in all indicators, few countries show increasing trends, and others could not demonstrate statistical trends due to data limitations, such as scarcity of data for boys. The Central African Republic experienced an increase in child marriage prevalence. Overall, many countries showed a decline in sexual violence and intercourse before the age of 15, but some exhibited increasing trends. For instance, Zambia and Senegal showed a decreasing trend of sexual violence, while Nigeria exhibits an increasing trend. Notably, Uganda, Cameroon, and Sierra Leone experienced substantial declines in early sexual intercourse for women, and Namibia, Zambia, and Kenya for men. There is a decline in child marriage, sexual violence, and early sexual intercourse in most countries independent of the income group. Only a few countries show slight increasing trends. The improvements confirm that policies that address education, employment, and deep-rooted gender inequality at societal level seem to be effective and help reach the SDG. However, better data are needed to enhance the understanding of the development of child marriage in these countries to improve the effectiveness of policy intervention. Therefore, we recommend that policymakers not only include existing evidence that continues progress but also increase and improve the monitoring of relevant indicators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key to discussions around feedback of individual results from genomics research are practical questions on how such results should be fed back, by who and when. However, there has been virtually no work investigating these practical considerations for feedback of individual genetic results in the context of low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), especially in Africa. Consequently, we conducted deliberative focus group discussions with 6 groups of adolescents (n = 44) who previously participated in a genomics study in Botswana as well as 6 groups of parents and caregivers (n = 49) of children who participated in the same study. We also conducted in-depth interviews with 6 adolescents and 6 parents or caregivers. Our findings revealed that both adolescents and parents would prefer to receive their individual genetic results in person, with adolescents preferring researchers to provide feedback, while parents preferred doctors who are associated with the study. Both adolescents and parents further expressed that feedback should be supported by counselling but differed on the timing of feedback, with preferences ranging from feedback as quickly as possible to feedback at project end. In conclusion, decisions on practicalities for feedback of results should be done in account of participants' context and considerations of participants' preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Achieving sustained HIV viral suppression is a key strategy to optimize the health and wellbeing of those living with HIV. Sub‐optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in adolescents and young people living with HIV (AYPLHIV) in Southern Africa, due to a range of social and contextual factors, including poor mental health, has presented a substantial challenge to meeting targets aimed towards improving treatment outcomes and reducing transmission. With the increasing availability of viral load (VL) testing in Southern Africa, there is an opportunity to better understand the relationship between VL literacy, wellbeing and adherence among adolescents. Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews with 45 AYPLHIV aged 10–24 years in three districts (urban, peri‐urban and rural) in Zimbabwe between March and August 2021. The sample was purposively selected to represent a range of experiences related to HIV status disclosure, gender, marital status and treatment experience. Separate workshops were conducted with 18 healthcare workers (HCWs) and 20 caregivers to better understand existing support mechanisms to AYPLHIV accessing ART. We used thematic analysis to examine adolescent VL literacy, treatment support networks, experiences of clinic interactions, VL testing procedures and barriers to adherence. Results: VL literacy was consistently under‐developed among participants. Comprehension of phrases commonly heard during clinic visits, such as TND (target not detected) and "high" and "low" VL, were better understood by older participants. VL testing was predominantly understood as a clinical procedure that enables HCWs to monitor treatment adherence. Absent throughout the interviews were descriptions of how viral suppression improves health and quality of life, likely fosters wellbeing and enhances self‐esteem, enables participation in education and social activities, and eliminates the risk of onward transmission. Conclusions: It is imperative that we reconsider how routine VL monitoring is communicated to and understood by AYPLHIV. Reframing ART, including VL test results, in terms of the psychosocial benefits that viral suppression can generate is likely to be crucial to motivating AYPLHIV to maintain optimal treatment engagement and develop self‐management approaches as they move into adulthood. Access to accurate information tailored to individual concerns and circumstances can support AYPLHIV to achieve wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

School-age youth constitute a neglected but highly vulnerable group concerning sexual health risks in low-resource countries. Robust evidence concerning the research landscape of school-based interventions on human papillomavirus in Africa is currently lacking. Therefore, this systematic scoping review (SSR) aims to map evidence about school-based HPV interventions and identify emerging themes, gaps and lessons learned in Africa. This review was guided by Joanna Brigg's Institute's guidelines for SSRs and reported based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Metanalysis for Scoping Reviews. Five databases—PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, and Allied and Complementary Medicine—were searched for relevant literature using appropriate search terms and Boolean operators. The retrieved literature was extracted, deduplicated and screened using the Rayyan software. Only those articles which met the eligibility criteria were included for data charting, collation, and summarization. Ten articles were included in this review. The articles demonstrate that a life-course approach is significant in health intervention. School-based health interventions help reach adolescents in a dynamic life stage, affecting their vulnerability to sexual health risks. The school-based interventions serve as an ideal platform to offer HPV peer education, improving their HPV knowledge and subsequent testing services and enhancing their acceptability for screening and vaccination. Cervical cancer education and screening can be effectively combined in HPV health services for women. While the studies are geographically diverse, such effective interventions, which help reduce bottlenecks in accessing HPV screening and vaccination, are very few in Africa. In conclusion, school-based intervention is a viable strategy that can be adopted for adolescent protection from HPV-induced diseases. However, the current evidence on the impact of these interventions, particularly HPV vaccination, is inadequate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]