The Lancet has launched its second series on adolescent health to coincide with the 45th Session of the UN Commission on Population and Development, which is focusing on adolescents and youth.

While the Millennium Development Goals have brought increased attention to adolescent sexual and reproductive health, the Lancet series has highlighted that there remain many limitations in the global data needed to guide policies and programs. Compass: WCH Knowledge Hub previously analysed the available national-level data for adolescent sexual and reproductive health in East Asia and the Pacific. This review identified many gaps including lack of data collected from young adolescents aged 10-14 years, lack of data collected or reported for unmarried adolescents, and lack of data about some important topics such as pregnancy complications and causes of maternal mortality, sexually transmitted infections, family planning and nutrition.

The Lancet adolescent health series: http://www.thelancet.com/series/adolescent-health-2012