Research Network for Design and Evaluation of Adolescent Health Interventions and Policies in Sub-Saharan Africa (DASH) is a network of public health research and training institutions from seven Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries (Tanzania, Ghana, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda) and Germany. DASH is funded through the “Research Networks for Health Innovations in Sub-Saharan Africa” (RHISSA) initiative. This is one of the major funding initiatives of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) which aims at building and expanding capacities on site and strengthening intra-African as well as African-German networking, and translating gained knowledge into policy and practice.
In March 2023, a RHISSA Bridging Conference was held in Cape Town, South Africa to present and discuss of the results from the first funding phase (ANDEMIA, CEBHA+, CYSTINET-Africa, TB Sequel, TAKeOFF); and launch the new research networks’ projects for the second phase including the DASH Network. Other networks funded in this second phase are: African One Health Network for Disease Prevention (ADAPT); Network for Oncology Research in Sub-Saharan Africa (NORA); Sub-Saharan Africa consortium for the Advancement of Innovative Research and Care in Sepsis (STAIRS); Post-TB lung disease ; and Tackling the Obstacles to Fight Filarial infections and podoconiosis (TAKeOFF). Furthermore, the conference was ideal forum to exchange ideas, discuss further work and network with researchers, funders, policymakers and other relevant stakeholder.
The DASH Network brings together researchers working in population health and epidemiology, public health, health economics, health system research, implementation science, design research, intervention, and policy evaluation with the goal of improving adolescent health in SSA through rigorous population-based intervention and policy research. This goal is achieved by efficient collection and use of relevant empirical data on adolescent health. Adolescence is a critical stage of life when important physical, cognitive, and social development take place. In this growth stage, behaviours related to diet, exercise, alcohol and tobacco use, violence, and sexual activity are developed. These developments determine and shape behaviours well into adulthood and thus influence long-term health outcomes. Improving adolescent health is therefore paramount in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and creating healthy societies.
The DASH Network employs robust quantitative and qualitative methods while gleaning on experiences of local domain-specific expertise in nutrition and physical activity, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health and violence. In doing so, the Network will address important research gaps related to the need for interventions and policies, as well as their design, evaluation, and transferability. Through planned research activities, DASH has the potential to significantly strengthen the research infrastructure and evidence base thereby improving adolescent health policy and practice in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The project's impact lies in its comprehensive approach to adolescent health in SSA, addressing nutrition, physical activity, sexual and reproductive health, and mental health. By leveraging a multi-country, multi-centre design, DASH aims to implement and test valuable interventions tailored to the needs of adolescents in SSA, ultimately contributing to improved health outcomes and informed policies.