what is Adolescent

 Definition 

Adolescence: From Latin “adolescere”  “to grow  up” (Macmillan Dictionary for Students Macmillan, Pan Ltd. 1981) 

Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical, cognitive, and psychological development that generally occurs during the period from puberty to legal adulthood 

WHO definitions: Adolescence: 10-19 yrs.,  Young people: 10-24 yrs. and Youth: 15-24 yrs.

     National AYHS definitions :  Adolescent & Youth: 10-24 yrs.


Mortality trends in adolescent and youths 

A decline in the overall mortality rate of AY 10-24 years
A decline in adolescent mortality of  all-cause
Relative increase in all-cause mortality for males against female counterparts
A rate of 2.4 male and 1.9 female deaths pern for urban 3.2 male deaths and 2.4 female rural deaths per 1,000 populations 
Higher pregnancy-related mortality rate for age group of  15-24 years compared to other age group

Epidemiology of Adolescents and Youth Health Problems

Global common causes of  AY morbidity:  injuries/violence; HIV/AIDS, SRH problems; substance use; mental health problems, nutritional problems, non-communicable diseases, and other infectious diseases
 Boys have higher mortality rates from unintentional injuries and violence compared to girls
Decline mortality rate among girls and increment mortality rate among boys progressively

Adolescent Nutrition
Men are generally thinner(32.3%) (BMI <18.5) than women( 22.4%) This figure is much high for adolescent boys aged 15-19 years of age (59%) than adolescent girls (29%). 
Nearly twice (31%)high underweight among rural adolescents than urban(17%).
High (11,3) obesity among children and adolescents

1. Adolescents have  fundamental right to health 
Adolescents, like all people, have fundamental rights to life, development, the highest achievable standards of health and access to health services.

2. Investments in adolescent health bring a triple dividend of health benefits
For adolescents now: promotion of positive behaviors
For adolescents’ future lives – to help set a pattern of healthy lifestyles 
For the next generation –promoting emotional well-being and healthy practices in adolescence 
3.Investments in adolescent health reduce present and future health costs and enhance social capital
Investment in adolescent health will build on earlier gains in young child health, and will sustain those investments

4.Adolescents are not simply old children or young adults; they have particular needs
The ranges of determinants that influence human health take particular forms and have unique impacts in adolescence
5. Adolescents bear a substantial proportion of the global disease and injury burden
In 2000, 43% of all deaths among those aged 5 to 24 years in the world









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