9.N. Practice session: From Data to Action – Joining forces to close the inequity gap in adolescent health
Authors:   Organised by: EUPHA-CAPH,   Chair persons: Heiko Schmengler (Netherlands), Julia Dratva (EUPHA-CAPH)
Published: October 2024

Persistent adolescent health inequalities exist in Europe, necessitating interventions that address both individual and societal factors, especially those pertinent to youths in unfavourable contexts. Collaborative efforts involving cross-sectoral partnerships and adolescent engagement are crucial in identifying and mitigating these disparities. Three case studies exemplify this approach.

Case study 1: Effective intervention development hinges upon the translation of epidemiological insights into tangible actions. Heiko Schmengler will discuss how individual and contextual-level data is made actionable for the development of ePro-schools, an e-health intervention to promote healthy dietary habits and physical activity amongst adolescents in socially disadvantaged settings. ePro-schools brings together stakeholders from academia, the health sector, the education system, and local communities. This collaborative approach ensures that the intervention is not only grounded in solid scientific evidence but also fits the specific cultural, social, and economic contexts of the adolescents it aims to serve.

Case study 2: Adolescents are not passive consumers of interventions, but active agents who frequently understand best what they need to improve regarding their health. Lourdes Cantarero Arevalo will share innovative methodologies and best practices for involving adolescents in data collection, intervention design, and policy development processes with the final aim to empower the voices of adolescents in vulnerable situations while addressing problems that are relevant for them.

Case study 3: Filipa Alves da Costa will draw attention to the health concerns of adolescents resulting from incarceration. This talk will outline the development of a policy brief derived from UN global study data, which highlights the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration in developing actions to safeguard access to high quality healthcare for adolescents within the criminal justice system. A cross-sectoral approach is critical given that criminal justice systems typically fall outside the direct oversight of health ministries. The goal is to encourage policymakers, practitioners, and advocates to consider inter-sectoral strategies to address the complex health challenges these adolescents face.

Following the presentations, we will facilitate a dynamic discussion with the audience, encouraging an exchange of ideas on strategies to address adolescent health inequalities from a multilevel perspective. This discussion aims to draw on the collective expertise of participants from diverse backgrounds, including practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. This dialogue aims to identify common barriers and opportunities, fostering a collaborative approach to tackling inequalities. The goal is to emerge from the workshop with a richer understanding of effective strategies that can be leveraged to close the gap in adolescent health across Europe.

Key messages

• Health inequalities among adolescents must be tackled collaboratively across different sectors and with participation of adolescents.

• Participants will gain valuable insights on innovative solutions and effective methodologies from the case studies to inform their own efforts in addressing adolescent health inequalities.