20/12/2023: The new WHO Europe report summarizes findings from the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey round 2021/2022 regarding the unequal impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents’ health and health behaviours in 22 countries and regions of the WHO European Region.
The survey showes that the pandemic and imposed restrictions had an unequal impact on adolescents, being more negative for those who were vulnerable to health problems and thereby further increasing pre-existing inequalities.
Based on the findings, the report includes recommendations on the implications these should have for policy-making going forward. Understanding the COVID-19 impact on more disadvantaged groups is essential to avoid increases in the social gradient in health.
