Global Adolescent Health
We invest in adolescents: reaping benefits now, into future adult life and for the next generation of children.
Group Heads
About
Adolescents account for a quarter of the world’s population, the largest cohort of 10–24-year-olds in history. In countries like Papua New Guinea and Myanmar, adolescents account for almost a third of the population. This generation provides unprecedented opportunities to advance global health, gender equality and sustainable development.
Adolescence is a critical period of human development. It coincides with new health needs and opportunities to improve health and wellbeing into adulthood and for the next generation of children.
Most of the world’s adolescents live in Asia and the Pacific. They experience a high burden of preventable poor health. They also face substantial barriers to accessing services and supports that respond to their unique needs.
Adolescents are also often excluded from research and decision-making about programs and policies that affect their lives.
Our group focuses on:
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sexual and reproductive health and rights and gender (including menstrual health)
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mental health
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non-communicable diseases.
Our approach includes collaborative research, co-design and innovation with young people.
We work with young people as experts, partners and advocates in understanding their health needs and in developing and evaluating new solutions. We also focus on youth-led and community-based approaches, and strategies to strengthen adolescent-centred health systems.
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Current projects
View 6 moreLancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing
Despite the incentives to invest in adolescent health, progress for the world’s adolescents has been slow.
Youth Labs in Asia and the Pacific
We’re establishing Youth Labs to harness young people's experiences, skills and expertise for solving adolescent health challenges.
Adolescent contraceptive self-care in Indonesia
In Indonesia, we're modelling self-care to help revolutionise adolescent contraceptive care, moving away from traditional family planning.
Past projects
View 13 more
Quantifying early marriage and union in Southeast Asia
While much of the policy focus in Southeast Asia has been on ending traditional forms of child marriage, there is increasing recognition that not all early unions are non-consensual or formal.
Understanding Pathways to Adolescent Pregnancy in Southeast Asia
We aim to improve understanding of the drivers and pathways to adolescent pregnancy in Southeast Asia.
Inequalities in sexual and reproductive health in Asia and the Pacific
This work analyses sub-national data for 17 countries to identify inequalities in sexual and reproductive health.
News and features
View 7 more
New Burnet funding for early-career research projects
Two exciting and diverse projects focused on Adolescent Health, and Women's and Newborns' Health in Lao PDR and the Philippines have been granted funding from Burnet’s Discovery Innovation Fund.
It’s time to act on adolescent health
How to reach people most in need of free period products
Featured publications
Protocol for the Adolescent Menstrual Experiences and Health Cohort (AMEHC) Study in Khulna, Bangladesh: A Prospective cohort to quantify the influence of menstrual health on adolescent girls’ health and education outcomes.
BMJ Open
Julie Hennegan et al
Gender inequalities in health and wellbeing across the first two decades of life: an analysis of 40 low-income and middle-income countries in the Asia-Pacific region
The Lancet Global Health
Elissa Kennedy et al
Key recommendations to strengthen public-private partnership for adolescent health in resource constrained settings: Formative qualitative inquiry in Mongolia, Myanmar and the Philippines
The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific
Peter Azzopardi et al
Mental health of adolescents in Myanmar: A systematic review of prevalence, determinants and interventions
Asian Journal of Psychiatry
Dominic Carroll et al
Can youth-centred sexual and reproductive health self-care and contraceptive innovation address unintended pregnancy among girls and young women? Some reflections from Asia and the Pacific
BMJ Global Health
Stephen Bell et al
Agency in young people’s unsafe abortion trajectories in Papua New Guinea
Culture Health & Sexuality
Elke Mitchell et al
Evaluated Interventions Targeting the Mental Health and Psychosocial Wellbeing of Children and Adolescents: A Scoping Review Focused on Low- and Middle-Income Countries in East Asia and the Pacific
Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health
Vinay Menon et al
Reports and other work
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Our future: a Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing
Our future: a Lancet commission on adolescent health and wellbeing -
Empowering girls, securing futures: the investment case for preventing adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in South-East Asia and the Pacific
Report
Empowering girls, securing futures: the investment case for preventing adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in South-East Asia and the Pacific -
Understanding pathways to adolescent pregnancy in Southeast Asia
Understanding pathways to adolescent pregnancy in Southeast Asia
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Strengthening Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Systems and Services for Children and Adolescents in East Asia and the Pacific Region. Regional Report
Report
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My Body is My Body, My Life is My Life: Sexual and reproductive health and rights of young people in Asia and the Pacific
My Body is My Body, My Life is My Life [PDF 8.9MB] -
Review of menstrual health and hygiene in the East Asia and Pacific region
Report
Review of menstrual health and hygiene in the East Asia and Pacific region -
Menstrual Health Evidence
Evidence for improved menstrual health.
Menstrual health evidence website -
Global adolescent health website
This webpage is affiliated with the Centre for Adolescent Health, which is part of the Melbourne Children’s campus in Parkville, Australia, which brings together three key partners for research and education: The Royal Children’s Hospital, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics.
Global adolescent health website
Group contacts
Dr Elissa Kennedy
Co-Program Director, Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health; Co-Head Global Adolescent Health
Student supervisor contacts
Professor Stephen Bell
Co-Head Global Adolescent Health; Senior Principal Research Fellow; Theme Lead, Social Science and Global Health
Group members
Dr Elissa Kennedy
Co-Program Director, Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health; Co-Head Global Adolescent Health
Professor Stephen Bell
Co-Head Global Adolescent Health; Senior Principal Research Fellow; Theme Lead, Social Science and Global Health
Dr Julie Hennegan
Senior Research Fellow
Aastha Subedi
Honorary Associate
Alexandra (Ali) Head
Senior Research Officer
Aye Thida Win
Area Manager (Magway), Women's, Children's and Adolescents' Health
Jona Turalde
Honorary Associate
Karly Cini
Research Officer
Dr Kyu Kyu Than
Research Director (Myanmar Program)
Malietasi Leah Bulu
Honorary Affiliate
Dr Marie Habito
Senior Research Officer
Dr Phone Myint Win
Country Representative, Myanmar
Theint Theint Maung Aye
Technical Specialist - Adolescent Heath
