Adolescent-led Our Voice method to promote healthy and active lifestyles and environments in South Africa
6 affiliations
- 1Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle & Sport, Division of Physiological Sciences, Department of Human Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- 2IMS Epidemiology, Institute of Metabolic Science, School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- 3Department of Sport Management, Centre for Sport Business and Technology Research (CSBTR), Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa
- 4Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- 5Department of Medicine, Stanford Prevention Research Center, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, United States of America
- 6School of Health, Psychological and Medical Sciences, and Institute for Health Research, University of Southern Queensland, Ipswich, Queensland, Australia
Abstract
Adolescents’ immediate environments, including their homes, schools, and neighbourhoods, have a significant impact on their behaviour, health and development. Fostering adolescents’ agency and empowerment can drive environmental and behavioural changes that can lead to improved health outcomes and reduced disparities in current and future generations. The objective of the study was to pilot and evaluate the implementation of a “by the people” citizen science method (the Our Voice method), engaging adolescent high school learners in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa in promoting healthy and active lifestyles and environments. Sixty-six high school adolescents of both genders between the ages of 13–18 years old were purposively recruited from 6 high schools in Cape Town, located in places of low or middle/high socioeconomic areas (SEA), as citizen scientists. The citizen scientists and some caregivers were interviewed via telephone. Citizen scientists also used a mobile application to collect data in their immediate environments to identify barriers to healthy eating, physical activity, hygiene, and safety. Data were audio-recorded, downloaded, and transcribed. In facilitated workshops, citizen scientists analysed the data and proffered solutions to the barriers, advocated change, and thereafter implemented relevant health promoting changes. Demographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements of the adolescents were also collected. Overall, similar barriers were experienced by adolescents regardless of SEA. However, lower socioeconomic status areas were a significant contributor of barriers to physical inactivity and unhealthy eating, safety, and hygiene. The buy-in and participation of adolescents and the school authority in the intervention to promote healthy lifestyles and environments is imperative. The Our Voice method was found to be a promising multi-layered tool for empowering adolescents as advocates in promoting feasible healthy and active lifestyle and environmental changes.
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BibTeX
@article{wayas2026adolescentled,
title = {{Adolescent-led Our Voice method to promote healthy and active lifestyles and environments in South Africa}},
author = {Feyisayo A. Wayas and Namhla Matwa and Sacha West and Abby C. King and Tolu Oni and Estelle V. Lambert},
journal = {PLOS Global Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1371/journal.pgph.0007141},
url = {https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007141},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Adolescent-led Our Voice method to promote healthy and active lifestyles and environments in South Africa
AU - Feyisayo A. Wayas
AU - Namhla Matwa
AU - Sacha West
AU - Abby C. King
AU - Tolu Oni
AU - Estelle V. Lambert
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/02
JO - PLOS Global Public Health
DO - 10.1371/journal.pgph.0007141
UR - https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0007141
AB - Adolescents’ immediate environments, including their homes, schools, and neighbourhoods, have a significant impact on their behaviour, health and development. Fostering adolescents’ agency and empowerment can drive environmental and behavioural changes that can lead to improved health outcomes and reduced disparities in current and future generations. The objective of the study was to pilot and evaluate the implementation of a “by the people” citizen science method (the Our Voice method), engaging adolescent high school learners in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa in promoting healthy and active lifestyles and environments. Sixty-six high school adolescents of both genders between the ages of 13–18 years old were purposively recruited from 6 high schools in Cape Town, located in places of low or middle/high socioeconomic areas (SEA), as citizen scientists. The citizen scientists and some caregivers were interviewed via telephone. Citizen scientists also used a mobile application to collect data in their immediate environments to identify barriers to healthy eating, physical activity, hygiene, and safety. Data were audio-recorded, downloaded, and transcribed. In facilitated workshops, citizen scientists analysed the data and proffered solutions to the barriers, advocated change, and thereafter implemented relevant health promoting changes. Demographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements of the adolescents were also collected. Overall, similar barriers were experienced by adolescents regardless of SEA. However, lower socioeconomic status areas were a significant contributor of barriers to physical inactivity and unhealthy eating, safety, and hygiene. The buy-in and participation of adolescents and the school authority in the intervention to promote healthy lifestyles and environments is imperative. The Our Voice method was found to be a promising multi-layered tool for empowering adolescents as advocates in promoting feasible healthy and active lifestyle and environmental changes.
SN - 2767-3375
ER -