Child and adolescent health in Europe: Towards meeting the 2030 agenda

Abstract

Background Childhood and adolescence are critical stages for a healthy life. To support countries in promoting health and development and improving health care for this age group, the WHO Regional Office for Europe developed the European strategy for child and adolescent health 2015-2020, which was adopted by all countries. This paper reports progress in the strategy’s implementation until 2020. Methods A survey was sent to all ministries of health of the 53 Member States of the WHO European Region. Responses were received from 45 Member States. Results are presented in this paper. Results The European Region made overall progress in recent years, but increasing levels of overweight and obesity among children, adolescent mental health and low breastfeeding rates are recognized as key national challenges. Although forty-one countries adopted a national child and adolescent health strategy, only eight countries involve children in their review, development and implementation stages. Two-thirds of countries have a strategy for health-promoting schools and a school curriculum for health education. One-third of countries do not have legislation against marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children. Most countries reported routine assessment for developmental difficulties in children, but less than a quarter collected and reported data on children who are developmentally on track. There are major gaps in data collection for migrant children. Hospitalization rates for young children vary five-fold across the region, indicating over-hospitalization and access problems in some countries. Only ten countries allow minors access to health care without parental consent based on their maturity and only eleven countries allow school nurses to dispense contraceptives to adolescents without a doctor’s prescription. Conclusions This paper shows the progress in child and adolescent health made by countries in Europe until 2020 and key areas where additional work is needed to move the 2030 agenda forward. The survey was undertaken before the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Both will likely exacerbate many of the observed problems and potentially reverse some gains reported. A renewed commitment is needed.

Leave no one behind: why WHO's regional office for Europe should prioritise children and adolescents in their program of work. A position statement from the European academy of paediatrics

“…These facts are supported by concerns expressed by ministries of 48 countries in the WHO European region. Over 80% considered adolescent mental health, overweight and obesity as problem areas ( 14 ).…”

Assessment of the general health status of children in Turkey: A community‐based cross‐sectional study

“…The child population rate in Turkey in 2022 was determined to be 26.5% (TURKSTAT, 2023a). Notably, childhood is very important for establishing a healthy foundation in life; growth and development in this period also has a critical effect on the quality of life in adulthood (Park et al, 2023; Wang et al, 2018). It is estimated that about 70% of premature deaths in adulthood are caused by health‐related behaviors that occur during childhood and adolescence (UNICEF, 2021).…”