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Handbook of Quality of Life in African Societies pp 149–176Cite as

Improving Health Outcomes and Quality of Life for African Adolescents: The Role of Digital and Mobile Games

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Part of the book series: International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life ((IHQL))

Abstract

Quality of life has been defined as a multi-dimensional concept, that includes domains related to physical, mental, emotional, and social dimensions (Karimi & Brazier, Pharmacoeconomics, 2016). Along with other prominent factors such as labor market opportunities, education, and housing, health has been identified as a paramount and modifiable factor that can improve the quality of life for not only individuals, but for communities and nations as a whole (African Development Bank Group, Annual development effectiveness review 2017: transforming Africa, 2017). Though adolescents in Africa have experienced increases in access to education, more job opportunities, and longer lifespans when compared to previous generations, many inter-connected factors continue to adversely affect their quality of life. Furthermore, given that these adolescents are growing up in a different generation, novel approaches and interventions to impact and improve their health, well-being, and ultimately quality of life are sorely needed. This chapter will explore: (1) general definitions of well-being and its relation to factors associated with quality of life; (2) adolescents in Africa; (3) health burdens in Africa; (4) Serious Games; (5) Games for health on a global scale and (6) Games for health in Africa. In this chapter the term adolescent will refer to those individuals who are 10–19 years old and the term young people will include those who are 20–24 years old.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. play2PREVENT Lab at the Yale Center for Health & Learning Games, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    Tyra M. Pendergrass, Kimberly Hieftje & Lynn E. Fiellin

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  1. Tyra M. Pendergrass
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  2. Kimberly Hieftje
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  3. Lynn E. Fiellin
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Correspondence to Tyra M. Pendergrass .

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  1. Faculty of Education, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Irma Eloff

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Pendergrass, T.M., Hieftje, K., Fiellin, L.E. (2019). Improving Health Outcomes and Quality of Life for African Adolescents: The Role of Digital and Mobile Games. In: Eloff, I. (eds) Handbook of Quality of Life in African Societies. International Handbooks of Quality-of-Life. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-15367-0_8

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