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. 2025 May 31;22(Suppl 1):81.
doi: 10.1186/s12978-025-01991-6.

Mapping stakeholders, services, data, and the information system for adolescent health in the West Bank

Aisha Shalash  1   2 , Maysaa Nemer  3 , Niveen Abu-Rmeileh  3   4 , Mohammad Kittaneh  5 , Dervla Kelly  6 , Khalifa Elmusharaf  7
Affiliations

Mapping stakeholders, services, data, and the information system for adolescent health in the West Bank

Aisha Shalash et al. Reprod Health. .

Abstract
in English, French

Background: Adolescent health plays a crucial role in shaping lifelong well-being, yet significant gaps exist in addressing adolescent health needs. In conflict-affected regions like the West Bank, fragmented service delivery, inconsistent data collection, and lack of coordination between providers undermine the effectiveness of health services. An efficient health information system ensures accurate data collection, stakeholder integration, and evidence-based decision-making. This study aims to map the landscape of available adolescent health services in the West Bank, clarify the key service providers, determine the existing data sources, and describe the health information system supporting adolescent health.

Methods: This study utilized a comprehensive landscape analysis to assess adolescent health services in the West Bank. Stakeholder mapping and interviews identified key stakeholders and assessed their roles in service delivery and the health information system. Ethical approval was obtained, and all participants provided informed consent. Data were collected from different healthcare organizations, including governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, and private facilities. Thematic analysis was performed on interview data, and geospatial analysis was used to visualize the distribution of services and providers across 11 governorates using ArcMap 10.5.

Results: Governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations, and private entities were the predominant providers of adolescent health services in the West Bank. These services were primarily delivered through healthcare facilities, educational institutions, youth centers, and select population-based programs, including vaccination initiatives and the 121 hotline, which provides free psychological support to victims of violence. The adolescent health information system in the West Bank was fragmented, with inconsistent data collection across providers. Governmental, NGO, and private sector organizations use different data systems. Each type of provider used population-based surveys as the primary source of health data. However, there were limitations in the availability of routine data.

Conclusions: This study represents the first comprehensive mapping of adolescent stakeholders and services in the West Bank. Identifying the existing services accessible to adolescents and their providers establishes a foundation for developing target policies and programs that address the current gap and needs of adolescents in the West Bank.

RéSUMé: CONTEXTE: La santé des adolescents joue un rôle crucial dans la définition du bien-être tout au long de la vie, mais il existe des lacunes importantes pour répondre aux besoins des adolescents en matière de santé. Dans les régions touchées par les conflits comme la Cisjordanie, la prestation de services fragmentée, la collecte de données incohérente et le manque de coordination entre les prestataires compromettent l’efficacité des services de santé. Un système d’information sur la santé efficace garantit une collecte de données précise, l’intégration des parties prenantes et une prise de décision fondée sur des données probantes. Cette étude vise à cartographier le paysage des services de santé offerts aux adolescents en Cisjordanie, à clarifier les principaux prestataires de services, à déterminer les sources de données existantes et à décrire le système d’information sanitaire soutenant la santé des adolescents. MéTHODES: Cette étude a utilisé une analyse globale du paysage pour évaluer les services de santé offerts aux adolescents en Cisjordanie. La cartographie des parties prenantes et les entretiens ont permis d’identifier les principales parties prenantes et d’évaluer leurs rôles dans la prestation de services et le système d’information sanitaire. L’approbation déontologique a été obtenue et tous les participants ont donné leur consentement éclairé. Les données ont été collectées auprès de différents organismes de soins de santé, notamment des organismes gouvernementaux, des organisations non gouvernementales et des établissements privés. Une analyse thématique a été réalisée sur les données des entretiens et une analyse géospatiale a été utilisée pour visualiser la répartition des service set des prestataires dans 11 gouvernorats à l’aide d’ArcMap 10.5. RéSULTATS: Les organismes gouvernementaux, les organisations non gouvernementales et les établissements privés étaient les principaux prestataires de services de santé offerts aux adolescents en Cisjordanie. Ces services étaient principalement fournis par l’entremise d’établissements de soins de santé, d’établissements d’enseignement, de centres pour jeunes et de certains programmes axés sur la population, notamment des initiatives de vaccination et la ligne d’assistance téléphonique 121, qui offre un soutien psychologique gratuit aux victimes de violence. Le système d’information sur la santé des adolescents en Cisjordanie était fragmenté, avec une collecte de données incohérente entre les différents prestataires. Les organismes gouvernementaux, les organisations non gouvernementales et le secteur privé utilisent des systèmes de données différents. Chaque type de prestataire utilisait des enquêtes basées sur la population comme principale source de données sur la santé. Toutefois, la disponibilité des données courantes était limitée. CONCLUSIONS: Cette étude représente la première cartographie complète des parties prenantes et des services destinés aux adolescents en Cisjordanie. L’identification des services existants accessibles aux adolescents et à leurs prestataires jette les bases de l’élaboration de politiques et de programmes ciblés qui comblent les lacunes et répondent aux besoins actuels des adolescents en Cisjordanie.

Keywords: Adolescent health; Health information system; Occupied Palestinian territory; West Bank.

Plain language summary

In the occupied Palestinian territory, characterized by conflict, a surge of humanitarian organizations has put pressure on the existing strained health system, leading to deficiencies in data consistency and coordination. With nearly 50% of the population under 18, understanding adolescent health needs and tailoring services become imperative. This study aims to map the landscape of adolescent health in the West Bank, exploring provider types, geographic distribution and services offered, and the health information system. Results show that governmental providers predominantly focus on adolescent health services, such as reproductive and mental health services. Youth centers and schools play pivotal roles in health promotion. This research underscores the need for robust health information systems to address adolescent health needs effectively and to provide more coordinated information for measurement and planning purposes. Surveys, particularly population-based ones, are the primary source of adolescent health data. International priorities heavily influence funding decisions, while national priorities have emerged, exemplified by the creation of the Palestinian Adolescent Health Coalition and the Department of School and Adolescent and Youth Health. Challenges include data integration and a need for updated indicators. The study highlights the importance of a comprehensive health information system for effective adolescent healthcare delivery, particularly in humanitarian contexts.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: This research obtained ethical approval from the Ethical Research Committee of the Institute of Community and Public Health at Birzeit University, with reference number 2019 (4–2). Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Distribution of adolescent services in the West Bank by the type of provider
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of adolescent services in the West Bank
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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