Harnessing longitudinal data to improve adolescent health in Tanzania.

Background: Approximately 25% of Tanga's population are adolescents, yet the region lacks key information in many areas of adolescent health. Until recently, adolescents have been overlooked in surveillance efforts and health policies, leaving an absence of information on risk factors and fewer health gains in this age group compared to others. Objectives: To utilize a standardized survey among adolescents (aged 10-19 years) to collect key adolescent health indicators related to nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, mental health, physical health, health services utilization and substance use. Methods: This cross-sectional baseline survey in Tanga employed a mixed method approach. A total of 1,031 in-school adolescents (10-19 years) from 20 schools, 20 school administrators, and 231 out-of-school adolescents from 8 hotspots participated. Descriptive analysis was conducted, and results presented in proportions and means with 95% confidence intervals. Subgroup analysis to assess variations in various dimensions of adolescents' health by gender and age was done. Results: Findings showed that majority (69%) of all surveyed adolescents did not attain dietary diversity. Approximately 18% of the interviewed adolescents were stunted. 6% were underweight, 8% were overweight. Moreover, 36% of the interviewed adolescents were found to be anaemic. About 45% of the adolescents preferred to receive sexual and reproductive health information from teachers, and 67% wished to have more classes on the topic. 7% of the interviewed adolescents reported to have ever tried smoking. Overall, 37% of adolescents reported to be physically active for at least 1 hour for 6 to 7 days of the week. Conclusion: Survey results highlights key adolescent health and nutrition intervention areas for Tanga City. With these findings we recommend revamping of ongoing adolescent interventions per the national guidelines and local policies, gleaning from the health seeking behavior and preferred access points for Tanga in-school and out-of-school adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]