| Title: |
Implementation and evaluation of the Y-Check comprehensive adolescent health check-up intervention in Zimbabwe: a pre-post mixed-methods study. |
| Authors: |
Doyle, Aoife M; Nzvere, Farirai; Manyau, Salome; Simms, Victoria; Li Lin, Ines; Kandiye, Faith R; Nyamayaro, Chipo Ashley; Takawira, Michaela; Chingono, Rudo MS; Tembo, Mandikudza; Manhibi, Ronald; Dauya, Ethel; Dziva Chikwari, Chido; Greco, Giulia; Bernays, Sarah; Baltag, Valentina; Maisiri, Hannah; Kasu, Tonderai; Nyamayaro, Wenceslas; Bandason, Tsitsi; Mackworth-Young, Constance RS; Banati, Prerna; Weiss, Helen A; Ross, David A; Ferrand, Rashida A |
| Publication Year: |
2026 |
| Collection: |
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine: LSHTM Research Online |
| Description: |
Routine adolescent health check-ups can support healthy development and well-being, but evidence on the feasibility, acceptability and effectiveness of contextually relevant comprehensive check-ups in low- and middle-income settings is limited. We conducted a hybrid implementation-effectiveness study incorporating a mixed-methods pre-post design of Y-Check, a comprehensive health check-up intervention in Zimbabwe, as part of a multicountry study developed and coordinated by the World Health Organization. Eligible participants were 10-19-year-old adolescents attending school or community venues. We used self-administered digital questionnaires, provider-led clinical tests and nurse reviews to screen for 25 conditions/behaviors. We provided health promotion, on-site care and referral to relevant providers. From October 2022 to September 2023, 2,097 adolescents were enrolled, of whom 1,843 (87.9%) were seen at 6 months. The primary outcome of appropriate care and/or referral(s) for all identified issues was achieved for 70.8% (95% confidence interval: 68.7-72.9%) of 1,865 participants with at least one issue. At follow-up, there were improvements in nutrition, health-related quality of life, self-esteem, behaviors and educational outcomes. The intervention was feasible and largely acceptable. Uptake of referral services varied by issue. Y-Check cost US$47 per participant. Through Y-Check, we identified untreated conditions and risk behaviors and successfully treated and linked adolescents to services. Here we provide evidence on the potential of the intervention to positively impact health and well-being. |
| Document Type: |
article in journal/newspaper |
| File Description: |
text |
| Language: |
English |
| ISSN: |
1078-8956 |
| Relation: |
https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/4679621/1/Doyle-etal-2026-Implementation-and-evaluation-of-the-y-check.pdf; Doyle, Aoife M ORCID logo; Nzvere, Farirai ORCID logo; Manyau, Salome; Simms, Victoria ORCID logo; Li Lin, Ines; Kandiye, Faith R; Nyamayaro, Chipo Ashley; Takawira, Michaela; Chingono, Rudo MS; Tembo, MandikudzaORCID logo; +15 more.Manhibi, Ronald; Dauya, Ethel; Dziva Chikwari, Chido ORCID logo; Greco, Giulia ORCID logo; Bernays, SarahORCID logo; Baltag, Valentina; Maisiri, Hannah; Kasu, Tonderai; Nyamayaro, Wenceslas; Bandason, TsitsiORCID logo; Mackworth-Young, Constance RS ORCID logo; Banati, PrernaORCID logo; Weiss, Helen A ORCID logo; Ross, David AORCID logo; and Ferrand, Rashida A ORCID logo (2026) Implementation and evaluation of the Y-Check comprehensive adolescent health check-up intervention in Zimbabwe: a pre-post mixed-methods study. Nature medicine, 32 (2). pp. 494-504. ISSN 1078-8956 DOI:10.1038/s41591-025-04156-x |
| Availability: |
https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/4679621/ |
| Rights: |
cc_by_4 |
| Accession Number: |
edsbas.7579D298 |
| Database: |
BASE |