Adolescent health research and initiatives in the occupied Palestinian territory: a scoping review.

Abstract

Objective: Adolescence is a period characterised by profound changes that warrant special attention, particularly for adolescents living in conflict-stricken regions. The dearth of available information regarding observational health research and interventions in the occupied Palestinian territory emphasises the need for a comprehensive examination of all accessible data. The aim of this review is to conduct a thorough analysis of the existing literature and initiatives focusing on adolescent health in the occupied Palestinian territory.

Design: Scoping review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework.

Data sources: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL and PsycINFO, along with grey literature, were searched for the period between 2012 and 2023.

Eligibility criteria for selecting studies: Research studies, programmes or interventions targeting adolescents aged 10-19 years, conducted in the occupied Palestinian territory, and published between 2012 and 2023 were considered. Both peer-reviewed articles and grey literature were included.

Data extraction and synthesis: Two independent reviewers conducted abstract and full-text screening of the selected articles. Discrepancies were resolved through discussion, with a third reviewer consulted when necessary. Data extraction was performed using Excel software by two independent reviewers. Extracted data were categorised as either intervention or observational research. For analysis, the extracted data underwent an explanatory frequency analysis using SPSS software.

Results: Our search yielded 114 research projects and 19 interventions from peer-reviewed and grey literature searches. The most frequently addressed topic was non-communicable diseases, with health awareness being the most common method employed in interventions. The studies targeted both male and female participants, with a particular focus on adolescents aged 10-19 years. The majority of the included studies received funding from international sources and were conducted by foreign and local researchers.

Conclusion: This review sheds light on the current framework of adolescent health interventions, identifies areas where research is lacking and advocates for evidence-based practices to enhance the well-being of Palestinian adolescents. Future interventions should encompass the younger age group, and research should strive to provide precise information for each age group independently.