Investment in child and adolescent health and development: key messages from Disease Control Priorities, 3rd Edition. Issue 10121 (17th February 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bundy, Donald A P; de Silva, Nilanthi; Horton, Susan; Patton, George C; Schultz, Linda; Jamison, Dean T
• Is Part Of: Lancet. Volume 391:Issue 10121(2018)
• Page Start: 687
• Page End: 699
• Publication Date: 2018-02-17
• Subjects: Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine; Medicine; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)32417-0
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0140-6736

Abstract

Summary: The realisation of human potential for development requires age-specific investment throughout the 8000 days of childhood and adolescence. Focus on the first 1000 days is an essential but insufficient investment. Intervention is also required in three later phases: the middle childhood growth and consolidation phase (5–9 years), when infection and malnutrition constrain growth, and mortality is higher than previously recognised; the adolescent growth spurt (10–14 years), when substantial changes place commensurate demands on good diet and health; and the adolescent phase of growth and consolidation (15–19 years), when new responses are needed to support brain maturation, intense social engagement, and emotional control. Two cost-efficient packages, one delivered through schools and one focusing on later adolescence, would provide phase-specific support across the life cycle, securing the gains of investment in the first 1000 days, enabling substantial catch-up from early growth failure, and leveraging improved learning from concomitant education investments.