179. Influence of Biological Maturation And The Physical Activity Level In The Health of Female Adolescents

Abstract

to any problems identified. The effectiveness and costs of such checkup visits urgently needs to be resolved, as it has the potential to transform the contribution of the health services to adolescent health at relatively low cost. Methods: The scientific literature and WHO recommendations on adolescent health have been reviewed to identify health areas that could be relevant for such an adolescent health checkup visit. In addition, a workshop was held in Zimbabwe where an international group of adolescent health research experts working in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) agreed on the priority content of potential checkup visits in (a) young adolescents (10-14y) and (b) older adolescents (15-19y). Results: The results of both exercises, literature review and expert consultation, were merged into one list, which serves as a basis for field testing adolescent checkup interventions. The suggested content of adolescent health checkups for younger and older adolescents was organized into three major groups: 1) Psychosocial screening; mental health; nutrition and physical activity; prevention of substance use 2) Communicable diseases; immunisation; sexual and reproductive health including family planning, sexual activity and menstrual hygiene 3) Physical examination; noncommunicable diseases; kidney disease; sensory impairments; learning difficulties; oral health; vision and hearing screening; diabetes; asthma; tuberculosis. Some interventions were prioritised for younger over older adolescents, such as nutrition, physical activity and immunisation, while substance use and sexual and reproductive health interventions were prioritised for older adolescents. Conclusions: Evidence-based guidance on whether countries should implement routine adolescent health checkups , and, if so, what these should consist of and how best they should be delivered in different contexts is urgently needed. The proposed list of potential components of adolescent health checkups will now be adapted to local context and tested in feasibility, implementation and effectiveness studies. Sources of Support: The workshop with international research experts held in Zimbabwe was funded by the Department of International Development (DFID).