---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 285g–8"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "285g–8"
heading: "Prospective longitudinal study on adolescent health"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/285g-8"
units:
  - "Chapter 6A — Public Health Service"
  - "Subchapter III — National Research Institutes"
  - "Part C — Specific Provisions Respecting National Research Institutes"
  - "Subpart 7 — eunice kennedy shriver national institute of child health and human development"
---

# §285g–8. Prospective longitudinal study on adolescent health

- (a) **In general—** Not later than October 1, 1993, the [Director](/usc/42/11851.md?p=5) of the Institute shall commence a study for the purpose of providing information on the general health and well-being of [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9) in the United States, including, with respect to such [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9), information on—
  - (1) the behaviors that promote health and the behaviors that are detrimental to health; and
  - (2) the influence on health of factors particular to the communities in which the [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9) reside.
- (b) **Design of study—**
  - (1) **In general—** The study required in [subsection (a)](#a) shall be a longitudinal study in which a substantial number of [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9) participate as subjects. With respect to the purpose described in such subsection, the study shall monitor the subjects throughout the period of the study to determine the health status of the subjects and any change in such status over time.
  - (2) **Population-specific analyses—** The study required in [subsection (a)](#a) shall be conducted with respect to the population of [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9) who are female, the population of [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9) who are male, various socioeconomic populations of [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9), and various racial and ethnic populations of [adolescents](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9). The study shall be designed and conducted in a manner sufficient to provide for a valid analysis of whether there are significant differences among such populations in health status and whether and to what extent any such differences are due to factors particular to the populations involved.
- (c) **Coordination with Women’s Health Initiative—** With respect to the national study of women being conducted by the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) and known as the Women’s Health Initiative, the [Secretary](/usc/42/201.md?p=c) shall ensure that such study is coordinated with the component of the study required in [subsection (a)](#a) that concerns [adolescent](/usc/42/300z–1.md?p=a-9) females, including coordination in the design of the 2 studies.

## Source credit

(July 1, 1944, ch. 373, title IV, § 452D, as added Pub. L. 103–43, title X, § 1031, June 10, 1993, 107 Stat. 167.)