Barriers and Enablers to Youth Participation in Health Policy and Governance in Africa: A Narrative Review

Barriers and Enablers to Youth Participation in Health Policy and Governance in Africa: A Narrative Review | Authorea try { document.documentElement.classList.add('js'); } catch (e) { } var _gaq = _gaq || []; _gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'G-8VDV14Y67G']); _gaq.push(['_trackPageview']); (function() { var ga = document.createElement('script'); ga.type = 'text/javascript'; ga.async = true; ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : 'http://www') + '.google-analytics.com/ga.js'; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(ga, s); })(); Skip to main content Preprints Collections Wiley Open Research IET Open Research Ecological Society of Japan All Collections About About Authorea FAQs Contact Us Quick Search anywhere Search for preprint articles, keywords, etc. Search Search ADVANCED SEARCH SCROLL This is a preprint and has not been peer reviewed. Data may be preliminary. 11 February 2026 V1 Latest version Share on Barriers and Enablers to Youth Participation in Health Policy and Governance in Africa: A Narrative Review Authors : Godswill Uzoechina 0009-0000-3429-6522 [email protected] , Victor Oluwafemi Femi-Lawal 0000-0003-2747-1681 , Olumide Thomas Adeleke 0000-0001-6503-6416 , Nwosu Ebube Clinton , and Oluchukwu Ezechukwu Authors Info & Affiliations https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177080410.04005308/v1 145 views 76 downloads Contents Abstract Supplementary Material Information & Authors Metrics & Citations View Options References Figures Tables Media Share Abstract Background: Although youth constitute a large and growing part of the African population, their participation in health policy and governance remains limited. Despite their size and social relevance, young people are largely excluded from the formulation of health policies, implementation, and governance, reinforcing cycles of inequities and poor system responsiveness. Objectives: This narrative review consolidates evidence on barriers and enablers of youth participation in health policy and governance across Africa. Methods: We performed a structured literature search across PubMed, AJOL, Google Scholar, and key organisational repositories (WHO, UNICEF, AU, and youth network databases) for studies and reports published between 2010 and 2025. Peer-reviewed and grey literature focusing on youth participation in health policy and governance, policy processes, and program evaluations within the African context were included. Non-health-related reports or studies focusing only on service usage and not conducted in Africa were excluded. A thematic narrative synthesis was used to identify common recurring barriers, enabling factors, and potential pathways linking youth voice to governance outcomes. Results: Major barriers include ineffective and/or tokenistic institutional mechanisms, deeply rooted age and gender hierarchies, insufficient funding and infrastructure, low levels of policy literacy and mentorship, and digital and geographic divides. Enablers included rights-based legal frameworks and national youth policies, sustained mentorship and capacity building, blended digital and face-to-face mobilisation, and formal participatory bodies with clear mandates. Four mechanisms for strengthening governance through youth participation were identified: formal representation, enhancing accountability and transparency, revitalising intergenerational trust, and increased system responsiveness that promotes equity. Conclusion: Effective youth participation requires sustainable institutionalisation, adequate resources, capacity building and support, active inclusion of underrepresented youth, and monitoring indicators that track quality of participation and its impact. Future research should prioritise longitudinal impacts of youth involvement, capacity-building models, and the development of a common set of indicators to assess participation. Supplementary Material File (barriers and enablers to youth participation in health policy and governance in africa_ a narrative review.docx) Download 27.83 KB Information & Authors Information Version history V1 Version 1 11 February 2026 Copyright This work is licensed under a Non Exclusive No Reuse License. Keywords africa health policy youth participation Authors Affiliations Godswill Uzoechina 0009-0000-3429-6522 [email protected] University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital View all articles by this author Victor Oluwafemi Femi-Lawal 0000-0003-2747-1681 University of Ibadan College of Medicine View all articles by this author Olumide Thomas Adeleke 0000-0001-6503-6416 Bowen University View all articles by this author Nwosu Ebube Clinton Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University View all articles by this author Oluchukwu Ezechukwu University of Nigeria View all articles by this author Metrics & Citations Metrics Article Usage 145 views 76 downloads .FvxKWukQNSOunydq8rnd { width: 100px; } Citations Download citation Godswill Uzoechina, Victor Oluwafemi Femi-Lawal, Olumide Thomas Adeleke, et al. Barriers and Enablers to Youth Participation in Health Policy and Governance in Africa: A Narrative Review. Authorea . 11 February 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22541/au.177080410.04005308/v1 If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download. For more information or tips please see 'Downloading to a citation manager' in the Help menu . Format Please select one from the list RIS (ProCite, Reference Manager) EndNote BibTex Medlars RefWorks Direct import Tips for downloading citations document.getElementById('citMgrHelpLink').addEventListener('click', function() { popupHelp(this.href); return false; }); $(".js__slcInclude").on("change", function(e){ if ($(this).val() == 'refworks') $('#direct').prop("checked", false); $('#direct').prop("disabled", ($(this).val() == 'refworks')); }); View Options View options PDF View PDF Figures Tables Media Share Share Share article link Copy Link Copied! Copying failed. 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