Adolescent Health
Conditions
Brief summary
This community-based cross-sectional study aims to assess the fulfilment of adolescent rights in health, education, protection, and community participation among adolescents aged 15-19 years living in Beni Adi village, a rural community in Assiut Governorate, Egypt.
Detailed description
Background: Adolescence is a critical period for healthy development, yet adolescents in rural Upper Egypt face multiple barriers to fulfilling their basic rights in health, education, protection, and civic participation. National surveys often overlook rural disparities, limiting targeted interventions. Objectives: This study aims to assess the extent to which adolescent rights are fulfilled in Beni Adi village, Assiut Governorate. Specific objectives include: (1) assessing adolescents' knowledge and practices related to nutrition, sexual/reproductive health, and mental health; (2) evaluating access to and perceived quality of health services; (3) measuring school enrollment, attendance, and educational barriers; (4) identifying exposure to harmful practices such as FGM, early marriage, child labor, and violence; and (5) assessing adolescents' participation in community activities and decision-making. Study Design and Setting: A community-based cross-sectional study will be conducted in Beni Adi village, Manfalut district, Assiut Governorate, Egypt. The village is geographically divided into three sections: Elbahria, Elqyblia, and Elwastenia. Study Population and Sample: The target population includes adolescents aged 15-19 years residing in the selected village. A multistage cluster sampling technique will be used: four residential squares will be randomly selected from each geographic section, and 25 eligible adolescents will be invited from each square. The final sample size is approximately 300 adolescents, accounting for design effect and anticipated non-response. Data Collection: Data will be collected by the researcher through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. The tool covers: (1) socio-demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status (using El-Gilany scale); (2) health domain (knowledge, practices, service access, and barriers); (3) education domain (enrollment, attendance, barriers); (4) protection domain (FGM, early marriage, violence, child labor); and (5) community participation domain (volunteer work, social support, civic engagement). Statistical Analysis: Data will be analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 21. Descriptive statistics will summarize variables. Inferential statistics (Chi-square, t-test, Mann-Whitney U) will assess associations. Logistic regression will identify predictors of key outcomes. Statistical significance will be set at p\<0.05. Ethical Considerations: Ethical approval will be obtained from the IRB Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Privacy and confidentiality of data will be strictly maintained. Administrative permissions will be secured from Assiut Health Directorate and local health units prior to fieldwork. Significance: Findings will provide evidence on rural adolescent rights gaps, informing policymakers and health planners to design targeted interventions that improve service access, reduce inequalities, and empower adolescents in rural Upper Egypt.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
Assiut University
Study design
Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
15 Years to 19 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Adolescents aged 15-19 years (both males and females) * Permanent residents of Beni Adi village, Manfalut district, Assiut Governorate * Willing and able to provide informed consent/assent to participate in the study * Able to communicate and respond to interview questions in Arabic
Exclusion criteria
* Adolescents with severe cognitive impairment or mental health conditions that prevent meaningful participation in the interview * Temporary visitors or non-residents of Beni Adi village * Adolescents who decline to provide consent/assent * Adolescents who are severely ill or unavailable during the data collection period
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Proportion of adolescents reporting fulfilled rights across health, education, protection, and community participation domains | Baseline assessment at single time point (cross-sectional) | A composite assessment of adolescent rights fulfilment based on self-reported indicators across four domains: (1) Health: knowledge of nutrition/SRH/mental health, healthy practices, and access to services; (2) Education: school enrollment, attendance, and perceived quality; (3) Protection: absence of FGM, early marriage, child labor, and violence; (4) Community Participation: engagement in volunteer work, decision-making, and social initiatives. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Adolescents' health knowledge, practices, and service access | Baseline assessment at single time point | Percentage of adolescents with: (1) adequate knowledge about nutrition, sexual/reproductive health, and mental health; (2) healthy practices regarding nutrition, physical activity, and avoidance of smoking/substance abuse; (3) reported access to needed health services; (4) perceived barriers to health service access (financial, geographic, stigma-related). |
Contacts
CONTACTyasmeen said abdelrhman ali ahmed, Demonstrator, Public Health &
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORyasmeen said abdelrhman ali, demonstrator
Assiut University, Faculty of Medicine
Outcome results
None listed