Global Health Determinants Perceived and Expressed by Children and Adolescents Between 6 and 17 Years: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies

Abstract

To identify the determinants of global health in the literature as perceived and expressed by children and adolescents in order to adapt prevention actions to this young audience. To also question the pertinence of a qualitative approach when interviewing children. Method: Systematic review of the literature from PubMed, Google Scholar, CINAHL, PsycINFO databases. The studies selected used qualitative methods alone for investigating the views of health determinants in children and adolescents. Results: 185 articles were read to reach a final selection of 13 articles on global health, excluding studies with children who were ill, studies using quantitative, mixed, or retrospective methodologies, and those dealing exclusively with themes of health. Collecting information from children and adolescents showed the pertinence and effectiveness of qualitative methods. It also appears necessary to explore new paths: improving and adapting the tools and methodological supports used and combining them to enrich repositories. Conclusion: The small amount of qualitative data available with the views of children and adolescents on health determinants requires that new studies with better adapted collection methodologies be set up. To increase pertinence and effectiveness among a young audience, it is necessary, considering the methodologies identified during this literature review, to turn toward a multi-phase method that combines these methods. A methodology in several phases allows each one to use a different approach with young people and to obtain richer and more varied information. A corpus of images appeared as a powerful tool for collection: it facilitates children's capacity for oral expression and places the researcher in a position of listening.

Joint Use of e.Photoexpression© and Photonarration: What Methodological Added Value?

“…Analysis of these data highlights a third added value: that of two major trends among children in their conceptions of health and cancer determinants: (1) the under-representation of environmental determinants (20.48%) and (2) overrepresentation of individual determinants (76.49%). This result is in itself of great importance since it has so far never been stated ( 22 ). The environmental determinants include the domain “relationship to the environment.” The categories of the “relationship to the environment” domain include factors unfavorable to health (pollution, feeling of insecurity, precariousness, poor economic situation) and factors favorably influencing health (protection of the environment, good economic situation).…”

“…However, we have shown in a review of the literature ( 22 ) that few international publications use a qualitative or mixed collection methodology, centered on children's conceptions of health and cancer, and this despite a high and diversified level of knowledge and representations about health concepts ( 23 , 24 ). The studies choose multiple methodological approaches, which are neither multiphase nor standardized and therefore not very reproducible.…”

Girl–boy differences in perceptions of health determinants and cancer: a more systemic view of girls as young as 6 years

“…The major challenge of this research is to document the literature on the conceptions of the determinants of health and cancer from the point of view of children and adolescents so that prevention policies aimed at them best respond to their concerns. Indeed, a review of the literature ( 5 ) shows a small number of qualitative data available with the opinions of children and adolescents on the determinants of health. Too little voice is given to children and adolescents regarding their health and what determines it.…”

Modelling the determinants of health and cancers as perceived by children: using imagery as a mediator of expression and narration

“…This model was adapted for children by Bronfenbrenner, 6 as well as by Dahlgren and Whitehead, 3 in 2019. 7 However, a review of the literature 8 shows that few international publications involved a qualitative or mixed methodology focusing on children’s conceptions of health and cancer. 9 10 No model to represent the determinants of health as perceived by children is available in the literature.…”