A Health System-Based Investment Case for Adolescent Health

This study argues that investments in the health of the world's 1.2 billion adolescents is a critical component of the overall investment case for adolescents and is vital for achieving the United Nation's Sustainable Development Agenda. We undertake a benefit cost analysis of a range of interventions to improve adolescent health.

We examined investments in intervention-specific costs, program costs, and health systems costs at a country level for 40 low- and middle-income countries that account for about 90% of adolescents in low- and middle-income countries. Intervention-specific costs and impacts were computed using the OneHealth Tool, whereas other published resources were used for the program and health systems costs. Interventions modeled include those addressing physical, sexual, and reproductive health; maternal and newborn health; and some noncommunicable diseases. Two coverage scenarios were simulated: an unchanged coverage scenario and one in which the coverage increases to achieve a high coverage by 2030.

Key outcomes included estimates of the costs, health-related impacts, and benefit-cost ratios (BCRs). For the 66 adolescent health interventions modeled for 40 countries, the total cost for the period of 2015-2030 was $358.4 billion or an average of $4.5 per capita each year. From 2015 to 2030, there were 7.0 million deaths averted, and 1.5 million serious disabilities averted. At a 3% discount rate, the average BCR were 12.6, 9.9, and 6.4 for low-income, lower middle-income, and upper middle-income countries, respectively. Countries with adolescent mortality rates ≥200 per 100,000 had an average BCR of 14.8 compared with countries with adolescent mortality rates <100 per 100,000 had an average BCR of 5.7.

The results show that there are substantial benefits from a program of interventions to improve adolescent health.