Child and adolescent health policy is the body of strategies, regulations, and programmes through which governments and public health systems seek to protect and improve the health and well-being of children and young people. Because the early years and adolescence are formative periods that shape lifelong health, s…
Child and adolescent health policy is the body of strategies, regulations, and programmes through which governments and public health systems seek to protect and improve the health and well-being of children and young people. Because the early years and adolescence are formative periods that shape lifelong health, such policy addresses a broad agenda spanning nutrition, immunisation, injury prevention, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, education, and the social determinants that influence young people's outcomes. It operates through measures such as service provision, school-based interventions, health education, legal protections, and the allocation of resources toward priority needs, and it must account for the distinct vulnerabilities and developmental stages of children and adolescents. A substantial part of the evidence base concerns adolescent sexual and reproductive health, including young people's knowledge and use of reproductive health services, parent-adolescent communication on sexual and reproductive matters, and the influence of gender norms and gender-based violence on health and equity. Research relevant to this topic also examines empowerment and education programmes intended to change perceptions of gender equity and aspirations, perceptions of gender discrimination among adolescents, and behavioural factors such as smoking among young people. By translating such evidence into coordinated action, child and adolescent health policy seeks to reduce preventable illness, support healthy development, and address inequities affecting young people.
8 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 8 articles above have been cited 58 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Child and Adolescent Health Policy, linking to each citing work.