Social Determinants of Health and Nutrition Among School-Age Children and Adolescents

Gizachew A. Tessema; Tesfaye S. Mengistu; Adyya Gupta; Amanuel T. Gebremedhin; Eleanor Dunlop; Molla M. Wassie; Gavin Pereira

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-95721-5_5

Social Determinants of Health and Nutrition Among School-Age Children and Adolescents

Gizachew A. Tessema, Tesfaye S. Mengistu, Adyya Gupta, Amanuel T. Gebremedhin, Eleanor Dunlop, Molla M. Wassie, Gavin Pereira

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines school-age children and adolescents (SACAs) as those individuals aged between 5 and 19 years. Despite this, the age range varies by country according to their educational system. Approximately 90% of SACAs live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, constituting up to 50% of the population. The SACA period represents an important timeline in the life-course, characterised by numerous fundamental milestones in growth and development, presenting a vital opportunity for shaping future health. Across the life-course, the nutritional requirements and health challenges vary according to a wide range of individual, social/community and environmental factors shaping the health outcomes of SACAs. Informed by the WHO’s Social Determinants of Health (SDH) framework, this chapter critically explores the determinants of SACAs’ health and nutrition. The determinants of health and nutritional status among these vulnerable groups include socio-demographic and economic factors such as age, gender and household income status, family dynamics, household food security, family food choices and the food environment. There is also growing evidence that school environment, media and food advertisements and marketing influence children’s dietary preferences and consumption patterns, thereby affecting health and nutrition outcomes.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Nutrition Across Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health Care
Subtitle of host publication	Focus on Low and Middle Income Countries
Editors	Zohra S. Lassi, Rehana A. Salam
Place of Publication	Cham, Switzerland
Publisher	Springer Nature
Pages	63-78
Number of pages	16
ISBN (Electronic)	978-3-031-95721-5
ISBN (Print)	978-3-031-95720-8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-95721-5_5
Publication status	Published - 2025

Keywords

Social determinants
Health and nutrition
School-age children and adolescents
Low-income

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Tessema, G. A., Mengistu, T. S., Gupta, A., Gebremedhin, A. T., Dunlop, E., Wassie, M. M., & Pereira, G. (2025). Social Determinants of Health and Nutrition Among School-Age Children and Adolescents. In Z. S. Lassi, & R. A. Salam (Eds.), Nutrition Across Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health Care: Focus on Low and Middle Income Countries (pp. 63-78). Springer Nature. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-95721-5_5

Tessema, Gizachew A. ; Mengistu, Tesfaye S. ; Gupta, Adyya et al. / Social Determinants of Health and Nutrition Among School-Age Children and Adolescents. Nutrition Across Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health Care: Focus on Low and Middle Income Countries. editor / Zohra S. Lassi ; Rehana A. Salam. Cham, Switzerland : Springer Nature, 2025. pp. 63-78

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Tessema, GA, Mengistu, TS, Gupta, A, Gebremedhin, AT, Dunlop, E, Wassie, MM & Pereira, G 2025, Social Determinants of Health and Nutrition Among School-Age Children and Adolescents. in ZS Lassi & RA Salam (eds), Nutrition Across Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health Care: Focus on Low and Middle Income Countries. Springer Nature, Cham, Switzerland, pp. 63-78. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-95721-5_5

Social Determinants of Health and Nutrition Among School-Age Children and Adolescents. / Tessema, Gizachew A.; Mengistu, Tesfaye S.; Gupta, Adyya et al.
Nutrition Across Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health Care: Focus on Low and Middle Income Countries. ed. / Zohra S. Lassi; Rehana A. Salam. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature, 2025. p. 63-78.

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

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N2 - The World Health Organization (WHO) defines school-age children and adolescents (SACAs) as those individuals aged between 5 and 19 years. Despite this, the age range varies by country according to their educational system. Approximately 90% of SACAs live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, constituting up to 50% of the population. The SACA period represents an important timeline in the life-course, characterised by numerous fundamental milestones in growth and development, presenting a vital opportunity for shaping future health. Across the life-course, the nutritional requirements and health challenges vary according to a wide range of individual, social/community and environmental factors shaping the health outcomes of SACAs. Informed by the WHO’s Social Determinants of Health (SDH) framework, this chapter critically explores the determinants of SACAs’ health and nutrition. The determinants of health and nutritional status among these vulnerable groups include socio-demographic and economic factors such as age, gender and household income status, family dynamics, household food security, family food choices and the food environment. There is also growing evidence that school environment, media and food advertisements and marketing influence children’s dietary preferences and consumption patterns, thereby affecting health and nutrition outcomes.

AB - The World Health Organization (WHO) defines school-age children and adolescents (SACAs) as those individuals aged between 5 and 19 years. Despite this, the age range varies by country according to their educational system. Approximately 90% of SACAs live in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly in Africa, Asia and Latin America, constituting up to 50% of the population. The SACA period represents an important timeline in the life-course, characterised by numerous fundamental milestones in growth and development, presenting a vital opportunity for shaping future health. Across the life-course, the nutritional requirements and health challenges vary according to a wide range of individual, social/community and environmental factors shaping the health outcomes of SACAs. Informed by the WHO’s Social Determinants of Health (SDH) framework, this chapter critically explores the determinants of SACAs’ health and nutrition. The determinants of health and nutritional status among these vulnerable groups include socio-demographic and economic factors such as age, gender and household income status, family dynamics, household food security, family food choices and the food environment. There is also growing evidence that school environment, media and food advertisements and marketing influence children’s dietary preferences and consumption patterns, thereby affecting health and nutrition outcomes.

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BT - Nutrition Across Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health Care

A2 - Lassi, Zohra S.

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PB - Springer Nature

CY - Cham, Switzerland

ER -

Tessema GA, Mengistu TS, Gupta A, Gebremedhin AT, Dunlop E, Wassie MM et al. Social Determinants of Health and Nutrition Among School-Age Children and Adolescents. In Lassi ZS, Salam RA, editors, Nutrition Across Reproductive, Maternal, Neonatal, Child, and Adolescent Health Care: Focus on Low and Middle Income Countries. Cham, Switzerland: Springer Nature. 2025. p. 63-78 doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-95721-5_5

Social Determinants of Health and Nutrition Among School-Age Children and Adolescents

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