EDITORIAL NOTE

Abstract

The first issue of Boitekanelo: Journal of Public Health in Africa brings into sharp focus a critical yet often under-addressed dimension of public health: adolescent well-being within complex social environments. Across five systematic reviews, this issue synthesizes evidence on the intersecting influences of community violence, school climate, bullying, mental health stigma, and household poverty on adolescent development. Collectively, these contributions highlight that adolescent health in Africa cannot be disentangled from the broader socio-ecological contexts in which young people live, learn, and grow.
The issue brings into sharp focus a critical yet often under-addressed dimension of public health: adolescent well-being within complex social environments. Across five systematic reviews, this issue synthesizes evidence on the intersecting influences of community violence, school climate, bullying, mental health stigma, and household poverty on adolescent development. Collectively, these contributions highlight that adolescent health in Africa cannot be disentangled from the broader socio-ecological contexts in which young people live, learn, and grow. A unifying theme across all five reviews is the interconnectedness of social determinants and adolescent health outcomes.