In some low and middle-income countries more than one in three of the total population is a ‘young person’. The rapid improvements in child health and survival in many countries have not been matched by improvements in the health of adolescents and young adults.

At the same time as the burden of infectious disease is declining, non-communicable diseases including injuries, mental health, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, diabetes and obesity are increasing dramatically. These conditions commonly have their origins in childhood and adolescence.

Adolescent health profiles differ greatly between countries and within nation states. Just over half of adolescents grow up in multi-burden countries, characterised by high levels of diseases of poverty (HIV and other infectious diseases, undernutrition, and poor sexual and reproductive health), injury and violence, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Burnet’s Dr Peter Azzopardi and Dr Elissa Kennedy both contributed to the landmark report Our future: a Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing released in 2016.

Image: Changes in disease burden in 10–24 year olds between 1990 and 2013. From The Lancet commission 2016

From The Lancet’s commission it was noted:

• Investments in adolescent health and wellbeing bring a triple dividend of benefits now, into future adult life, and for the next generation of children.
• Inequities, including those linked to poverty and gender, shape all aspects of adolescent health and wellbeing.
• Tackling preventable and treatable adolescent health problems including infectious diseases, undernutrition, HIV, sexual and reproductive health, injury, and violence will bring huge social and economic benefits. This is key to bringing a grand global convergence in health in all countries by 2030.
• Establishing systems for the training, mentoring, and participation of youth health advocates has the potential to transform traditional models of health-care delivery to create adolescent-responsive health systems.

Current Projects

• A GIFT (Genital Inflammation Test) for HIV Prevention
  Developing a biomarkers point-of-care test to identify women with genital inflammation who are at high risk of HIV acquisition
• A profile of adolescent health in Myanmar
  Adolescents make up a significant proportion of the population in Myanmar, but their health needs remain poorly described.
• Addressing adolescent sexual and reproductive health in the Pacific
  Adolescents in the Pacific experience a significant burden of preventable poor sexual and reproductive health
• Engaging private sector for adolescent health service delivery in Asia and Pacific
  The aim of this research is to identify opportunities for public-private partnerships for adolescent health.
• Gender Counts
  A quantitative assessment of gender inequality and its impacts on children and adolescents in Asia and the Pacific.
• IMSA: Improving SRH knowledge among young people in Magwey, Myanmar
  This formative study provides evidence of current knowledge and attitudes among adolescents.
• Inequalities in sexual and reproductive health in Asia and the Pacific
  Despite progress to improve sexual and reproductive health in the region, significant inequalities in health outcomes and access to essential care remain.
• Mucosal injury from sexual contact (MISC)
  Understanding the biological and socio-behavioural risk factors for HIV acquisition in South African adolescents.
• Non-communicable diseases in adolescents in Indonesia
  An investigation of the burden of these diseases amongst Indonesian 16-18 year-olds.
• Sexual and reproductive health in Asia and the Pacific
  A review of issues, policies and programmes.
• SRH survey of Chinese-speaking international students
  A survey of international students' sexual behaviors, knowledge of STIs, sexual education and pornography.
• The role of female genital tract microbial function in inflammation and HIV infection risk.
  Using metaproteomics and in vitro models to evaluate the influence of microbial function on inflammation and HIV risk.

Past Projects

• Children and teenagers' exposure to risk online and methods to reduce harm
  Understanding experiences of parenting children in the age of online technology and pornography.
• Adolescent reproductive health in Myanmar
  Adolescent reproductive health in Myanmar
• Assessing adolescent friendly health services in Nepal
  Young people in Nepal have poor access to quality, non-discriminatory health services.
• Fitspiration and Social Media
  “Fitspiration” promotes exercise and health, but emerging research shows this can impact body image.
• Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing
  The Commission will consider the next steps needed to implement the available evidence in global adolescent health.
• Menstrual hygiene management in Indonesia
  Understanding the impact that menstrual hygiene practices can have on females in developing countries.
• MNCH support in Myanmar's Northern Shan State
  This project involves Namhsam, Namtu and Manton townships.
• Pathways to post abortion care in Myanmar
  Understanding women's perspectives on accessing post-abortion care at public hospitals.
• Substance use and related harms among young people in the Solomon Islands
  Quantitative and qualitative research into youth substance use in the Solomon Islands.