The Issue
Reducing Nutrition-Related Noncommunicable Diseases in Adolescence and Youth: Interventions and Policies to Boost Nutrition Fluency and Diet Quality in Africa (ARISE-NUTRINT)
The ARISE Network Studies, conducted within the USINGA Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) in Umlazi, focus on improving adolescent health and wellbeing in sub-Saharan Africa. Through projects such as ARISE-NUTRINT and ARISE-DASH, the studies address critical issues of nutrition, physical activity, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health among adolescents aged 10 to 24.
The Intervention
Working within a collaborative network of 22 African institutions and international partners, the projects combine health surveillance with evidence-based interventions. Using data from HDSS and national health surveys, ARISE implements and evaluates scalable interventions that promote healthy behaviours and strengthen adolescent health systems.
The Impact
By generating robust, population-level evidence and practical interventions, the ARISE Network contributes to reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases and improving adolescent health outcomes. The findings will inform policy, guide implementation, and strengthen South Africa’s and Africa’s capacity for people-centred, evidence-driven health care.
