Are concepts of adolescence from the Global North appropriate for Africa? A debate

• Published in: BMJ global health Vol. 8; no. 12; p. e012614
• Main Authors: Ngwenya, Nothando, Dziva Chikwari, Chido, Seeley, Janet, Ferrand, Rashida Abbas
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 12.12.2023; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adolescence; Adolescent; Adolescents; Africa; Age; Alcohol; Behavior; Cardiovascular diseases; Child development; Children & youth; Commentary; Debates; Decision making; Health policies and all other topics; Health promotion; Humans; Intervention; Marriage; Other study design; Puberty; Public Health; Risk factors; Risk taking; Rites of passage; Sexual behavior; Sexually transmitted diseases; STD; Substance use; Teenagers; Africa; Tanzania; Public Health; Health policies and all other topics; Other study design
• ISSN: 2059-7908; 2059-7908
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012614

In 2016, the Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health defined adolescence universally as ‘a critical phase in life for achieving human potential; where an individual acquires the physical, cognitive, emotional, social and economic recourses that are the foundation for later life health and well-being’.1 The aim of this paper is to explore the extent to which concepts of adolescence from the Global North are appropriate for health interventions in Africa. Importantly, it is during this phase of the life course that reproductive potential is achieved, which is critical for the survival of the human race. Experimentation and risk-taking during adolescence are associated with many behaviours such as sexual behaviour, alcohol, smoking and substance use, which in turn are risk factors for some of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality later in the life-course worldwide, for example, HIV and cardiovascular disease. [...]a specific focus on addressing these behaviours during adolescence is key to improving health both immediately and later in life. Table 1 Legal ages for voting, marriage and drinking in five countries Zimbabwe Argentina Iraq France Canada Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Boys Girls Legal voting age* 18 18 16 16 18 18 18 18 18 18 Legal drinking age† 18 18 18 18 21 21 18 18 18 18 Legal age for Marriage‡ 18 18 18 16 18 18 18 18 18 18 *Lowering the Voting Age.