Introduction To Adolescence And To Adolescent Health
Introduction to adolescence & toadolescent healthTraining Course in Sexual and Reproductive Health ResearchGeneva 2012
Topics1. The meaning of adolescence2. The health problems that adolescents face3. What adolescents need to grow & develop in good health4. Who needs to meet the needs & fulfil the rights of adolescents5. Why we should invest in the health & development of adolescents6. Frameworks for addressing the health & development ofadolescents
1. What do we mean by the term'adolescents ' ?
The second decade:No longer children, not yet adults !Adolescents10 - 19 yearsYouth15-24 yearsYoung people10-24 yearsSource: A picture of health? A review and annotated bibliography of thehealth of young people in developing countries (WHO, UNICEF, 1995).
Adolescents are a diversepopulation groupDifferent needsChanging needs
What is special about adolescence ?(What makes it different from childhood & adulthood ?) A time of rapid physical and psychological(cognitive and emotional) growth anddevelopment. A time in which new capacities are developed. A time of changing social relationships,expectations, roles and responsibilities.
2. What do we mean by the term'health' ?
“Health is a state of completephysical, mental and social well-beingand not merely the absence of diseaseor infirmity."Source: Constitution of the World Health Organization, 1948.
3. What are the main healthproblems of adolescents ?
Many adolescents move from childhood throughadolescence into adulthood in good health.
Key health problems in adolescence.Sexual & reproductivehealth-Too early pregnancy risks to mother risks to baby- Health problems duringpregnancy & child birth(including unsafe abortion)-Sexually TransmittedInfections including HIV-Harmful traditionalpractices e.g. female genitalmutilation-Sexual coercionOther issues- Injuries fromaccidents &intentional violence- Mental healthproblems- Substance useproblems- Endemic diseases:malaria,schistosomiasis,tuberculosis- Under/over-nutritionSource: United Nations. World Youth Report 2005. Young people today, and in 2015.United Nations. 2005. ISBN 92-1-130244-7.
4. What do adolescents need togrow & develop in good health ?
What adolescentsneed & why? Information & skills(they are still developing) Safe & supportiveenvironment(they live in an adultworld) Health & counsellingservices(they need a safety net)
5. Who needs to contribute tomeeting these needs & fulfillingthese rights ?
istersAdolescentsRelativesFriendsFamily friendsTeachersSports coachesHealthcare providersReligious leadersTraditional leadersMusiciansFilm starsSports figures
6. Why should we invest in thehealth and development ofadolescents ?
Demographic rationalePublic health rationaleEconomic rationaleHuman rights rationale
Demographic rationale – 1/2 One in five individuals inthe world is anadolescent, aged 10-19years. Most adolescents live indeveloping countries. In these countries, theyrepresent up to a fourthof the population.Source: Youth & health risks. Report to the World Health Assembly, 2011.
Public Health Rationale 1/4MortalityEvery year about1.4 million deathsoccur in adolescents.Most of these deaths occur in low &middle income countriesDeath rates vary by region & sexDeath rates rise sharply from earlyadolescence (10-14) to youngadulthood (20-24)Leading causes of death vary by sexand by region.Source: Youth & health risks. Report to the World Health Assembly, 2011.
Public Health Rationale 2/4MorbidityTens of millions of adolescent sface health problemsquarter ofthe adolescent girls are underweight. In 21 countries (out of 41 countries with available data), athird of adolescent girls are anaemic Globally, about 2.2 million adolescents areliving with HIV Between 40-70% ever-married girls aged 1519 reported that they experienced emotional,physical or sexual violence by their current ormost recent husband or partner. In 11 countries (out of 64 with available data), aSource: UNICEF. Progress for children. A report card for adolescents. 2012.
Public Health Rationale 3/4BehavioursHundreds of millions ofadolescents adopt unhealthyhabits that will lead to disease anddeath in later life Unprotected sex Physical inactivity Use of tobacco, alcohol & illicit drugsSource: Youth and Health Risks. Report to the World Health Assembly. 2011.
Public health rationale – 4/4sound reasons for investment for this generationHealthproblems /health-relatedbehavioursduringadolescenceAge when this has its major impactAdolescenceAdulthoodChildhood(next generation)Injuries andviolence Too-earlypregnancy Human PapillomaVirus infection Tobacco use HIV infection
Economic rationale – 1/41. The benefits ofinvesting inadolescents2. The cost of notinvesting inadolescents
Economicrationale – 2/4The need to make full useof the demographicdividend when one can.
Economic rationale – 3/4The need to actbeforethedemographictransitioncloses doors.
Economic rationale - 4/4Socio-economic deprivation: a cause & consequence ofadolescent pregnancyToo earlypregnancyPoverty" We young women are not prepared to becomemothers. I would like to continue my studies. But sinceI have had my daughter, my options have changedbecause I have many more obligations now."Eylin 19, Honduras January 2006.Loss ofeducational&employmentopportunitiesSource: World Development Report 2006 (World Bank, 2006.)
Human rights rationale -1/2Convention on the rightsof the child Article 24: The right to the highestlevel of health possible & toaccess the required healthservices Article 17: The right to accessappropriate information from themedia & to be protected fromharmful information Article 13: The right to seek,receive and impart informationand ideas of all kindsChoices: A guide for young peopleGill Gordon, 1999.
Human rights rationale – 2/2For many adolescents the worldis in fact 'flat': Greater access to education Greater access to informationabout the world Greater ability to make personal& professional choicesFor many other adolescents, thereality is very different
6. Frameworks for addressingthe health and development ofadolescents
World Bank framework: Youthtransitions seen through three lensesFirst lens: Broadening opportunitiesfor young people to develop skillsand use them productively.Second lens: Helping them acquirethe capabilities to make gooddecisions in pursuing thoseopportunitiesThird lens: Offering them secondchances to recover from baddecisions, either by them or byothers.Source: World Bank. World Development Report 2007. Development and the next generation. World Bank. Washington,USA. 2007.
SWHO: Delineating & strengtheningthe contribution of the health rmedpoliciesSServices &commoditiesSStrengthening &supportingother sectorsWHO. Strengthening the health sector response to adolescent health & development. WHO. Geneva. 2009.
UNFPA framework for actionon adolescents & youth1. Supportive policy making thatapplies the lens of populationstructure & poverty dynamicsanalyses2. Gender & life-skills based sexual& reproductive health education3. Sexual & reproductive healthservices4. Young people's leadership andparticipationSource: UNFPA framework for action on adolescents and youth. Opening doors with 4 keys. UNFPA. New York, USA. Undated.
Tens of millions of adolescent s face health problems In 11 countries (out of 64 with available data), a quarter of the adolescent girls are underweight. In 21 countries (out of 41 countries with available data), a third of adolescent girls are anaemic Globally, about 2.2 million adolescents are living with HIV
3.1 W W Worksheet 3.1: Percentile growth charts 80 W DIMENSION: HEALTH KNOWLEDGE AND PROMOTION. CHAPTER 3: ADOLESCENCE — CHANGES AND CHALLENGES W 81 Adolescence Adolescence is the time during which we mature from childhood to adult-hood. This is a t
Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood Cross-Cultural Comparisons Models of Cultural Adaptation . Chapter 12 Outline ETHNICITY Immigration Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood: A special Juncture for Ethnic Minority Individuals Ethnicity Issues The United States and Canada: Nations with . Promotes a plura
gender identity, mindsets, and science possible selves, we assess multiple hypotheses about how gender, grade level, and mindsets are associated with boy-science bias, science confidence, science possible selves, and the desire for a science career. 1.1. Gender Identity in Early Adolescence Adolescence is an important time in the life course.
Learning Objectives By the end of this chapter you should appreciate that: n the journey from adolescence through adulthood involves considerable individual variation; n psychological development involves physical, sensory, cognitive, social and emotional processes, and the interactions among them; n although adolescence is a tim
Adolescence and emerging adulthood: a cultural approach ,/ JeffreyJensen Arnett.-2nd ed P.CM. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 0-13-111532-4 I . Adolescence-Cross-cultural adults-Cross-cultural studies. HQ796.A7255 2003 305.235-dc2l 2003042977 Executiv
adolescence is a time of changing lifestyles and food habits that affect both nutrient needs and intake. Third, adolescent drive for individuation means more opportunity to assert food choices and expand or narrow healthy options. Adolescence can be divided into three stages. Early adolescence (11-14 years of age) is characterized by the onset of
An Opportunity to Do Better: Youth Pathways to Thriving 2 Promise of Adolescence A recent report by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, Promise of Adolescence, underscores the period of adolescence as a time of opportunity and promise. 2 Similarly, the Center for the Developing Adolescent heralds
Erik Erikson’s Stage 5. Adolescence: 12 to 18 Years Erikson defines the developmental stage of adolescence as taking place between 12 to 18 years. According to Erikson, for the developmental stage of adolescence: Ego Development Outcome: Identity vs. Role Confusion Basic Strengths: Devotion and Fidelity
