Health care of the adolescent

Adolescence—is one of the most dynamic stages of human development. It is a

time of marked physical, emotional, and intellectual changes, as well as changes in
social roles, relationships and expectations.
The “Ages” of Adolescents
Adolescents are not just teenagers. Adolescents include 10-24 year-olds.
Adolescence is not one developmental stage, but three developmental stages:
√ Early adolescence (10-14 years of age);
√ Middle adolescence (15-17 years of age); and
√ Late adolescence and young adults (18-24 years of age).
The three separate stages are important to consider when planning strategies and
programs to meet the developmental needs of adolescents. WHO's definition,
adolescents are aged between 10-19years,

Why Focus on Adolescent Health?

 Adolescence is one of the most dynamic stages of human growth and

development. The rate of developmental changes during adolescence is
second only to infancy. Adolescence is a time of redefining and developing
relationships, with parents, family and peers. The experiences of childhood
have a significant impact on adolescence, while adolescence lays in
adulthood.
 Demographic rationale One in five individuals in the world today is an
adolescent (around 1.2 billion)The global population of adolescents is
estimated to continue to increase and to peak just over next thirty years
 Economic rational, a healthy and productive work force can help move a
country from low to middle income
 Public health rationale: mortality- There are an estimated 2.6 million deaths
in the 10-24 year age group every year.97% of them occur in low and
middle income countries .The causes of these deaths are Injury like Road
traffic ,self-inflicted, violence ,drowning, maternal condition, HIV ,TB
morbidity - WHO estimate that by the beginning of 2004 over 40 million
people were infected with HIV. More than 10 million of these were young
people. There are other important causes of morbidity including anaemia,
depression and vesico-vaginal fistula. This is a phase of life when important
behaviours – habits that will determine health and disease in adulthood are
 formed. Smoking, diet and exercise behaviours are cases in point. that some
health problems (illnesses and infections) and health-related behaviours
acquired during adolescence have their impact during adolescence; others
have their impact in adulthood; religious intolerance, civil strife and war
are hugely important influences on today's adolescents well into the second
half of the 21st century.
 Convention on the rights of the child
Article 24: The right to the highest level of health possible & to access the
required health services
Article 17: The right to access appropriate information from the media & to
be protected from harmful information
Article 13: The right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all
kinds

What is Adolescent Health? Adolescent Health is the optimal state of well being
in all areas of life—physical, emotional, cognitive, social and spiritual. By using
the broad definition of health adolescents are healthy when they:

1. engage in healthy behaviors that contribute to a healthy lifestyle;

2. have the capacity to thrive in spite of stressors in life;
3. successfully engage in the developmental tasks of adolescence; and
4. experience a sense of wholeness and well-being.

health problems in adolescence

 Sexual & reproductive health-Too early pregnancy , Health problems

during pregnancy & child birth (including unsafe abortion),Sexually
Transmitted Infections including HIV, Harmful traditional practices e.g.
female genital mutilation
 Others-Injuries from accidents & intentional violence, Mental health
problems,

Substance use problems, malaria ,schistosomiasis tuberculosis ,Under/over-

nutrition

What adolescents need & why?

 Information & skills (they are still developing)

 Safe & supportive environment (they live in an adult world)
 Health & counselling services (they need a safety net) . A useful analogy is
that of an 8 year old girl who needs to cross the road every day to get to
school .She needs information & skills: where to look, what to look for,
when to walk across, when not to do so. She needs a safe & supportive
environment: a zebra crossing, traffic lights that work or a traffic warden in
position, drivers who respect traffic rules or are punished if they do not do
so .She may also need health & counselling services, if she stumbles and
falls, or is struck down by a vehicle . Health workers and health services
have important roles to play in promotive and preventive health as well not
a curative context alone.
Who needs to contribute to meeting these needs & fulfilling these rights ?
At the centre is the adolescent himself or herself. Parents, siblings and some
other family members are in immediate contact with the adolescent &
constitute the first circle. The second circle includes people in regular
contact with them such as their own friends, family friends, teachers, sports
coaches, health workers and religious leaders. The third circle includes
musicians, film stars & sports figures who have a tremendous influence on
them from afar. Finally in the fourth circle, politicians, journalists and
bureaucrats (within the government & private sectors) affect their lives in
small & big ways, through their words and deeds. .

Politicians
Journalists
Bureaucrats

Relatives
Friends
Parents
Family friends
Brothers/Sisters
Teachers
Sports coaches
Adolescents Healthcare providers
Religious leaders
Traditional leaders

Musicians
Film stars
Sports figures