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INTRODUCTION TO ADOLESCENT HEALTH

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By

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Prof Edwin E. Eseigbe

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OUTLINE

  • Objectives
  • Introduction
  • Peculiarities of Adolescents
  • Adolescents’ Disease Burden
  • Adolescent Health Issues
  • Current Global Strategies
  • Recommendations on Adolescent Health
  • Why Invest on Adolescents?
  • Conclusion
  • Feed back

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OBJECTIVES

  • To acquire basic knowledge about Adolescent health issues
  • To be able to apply the right attitude while addressing Adolescent health issues

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Introduction

  • Adolescence is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood.
  • This transitional stage is characterized by rapid changes in body structure and physiology with social function.
  • The word adolescence is from the Latin word “adolescere” which means “to grow up”.
  • As defined by the World Health Organization (WHO), adolescents refer to persons between the ages of 10 and 19 years.
  • The period of adolescence proceeds across three distinct periods – early (10-13 years), middle (14-16 years) and late (17-19 years).

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Introduction cont’d.

  • There are 1.2 billion adolescents at present in the world, this accounts for 18% of the world’s population.
  • According to the 2006 census in Nigeria, adolescents comprised 31.7% of the population, with nearly equal proportion of males and females, 50.1% males versus 49.9% females.
  • Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
  • Understanding and propagating the health of the adolescence is of vital importance.

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Peculiarities of Adolescents

  • Rapid physical, cognitive, social, emotional and sexual development occur during adolescence.

- Puberty, hormonal changes, new/complex emotions and sensations, gender identity and sexual awareness, enhanced cognitive ability.

  • Widening gap between biological maturity and social transition to adulthood.
  • Balance between protection and autonomy

- Emerging autonomy but limited access to resources (finances, transportation) .

- Rights to consent to services

- Increased social vulnerability (gaming, online bullying).

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Adolescents’ Disease Burden

  • For years, the unique health issues associated with adolescence have been little understood or in some cases, ignored.
  • Preventable health risk behaviors are often established during adolescence
  • Adolescents are often thought of as a healthy group. Nevertheless, many adolescents do die prematurely.
  • Adolescents are one sixth of the world’s population and account for 6% of the world’s global burden of disease and injury.

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Adolescents Disease Burden cont’d

  • In 2015, more than 1.2 million adolescents died (WHO).
  • Nearly two-thirds of deaths occur in low and middle-income countries (LMICs): Particularly in the African (45%) and South-East Asian (26%) regions.
  • The leading causes of death in adolescents include: Road traffic accidents, pneumonia, suicide, diarrheal diseases, drowning. Others are self harm, HIV/AIDS, meningitis, Interpersonal violence, self harm
  • Complications arising from pregnancy is the leading cause of death for 15-19 years old girls globally.

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Adolescents Disease Burden cont’d

- Violence is the leading cause of death. Interpersonal violence represents 43% of all adolescent male deaths in low/middle income countries. Globally, 1 in 10 girls under 20 years experience sexual violence.

  • HIV/AIDS : more than 2 million adolescents are living with HIV. In Sub-Saharan Africa only 10% of young men and 15% of young women aged 15 to 24 years are aware of their HIV status.
  • Mental Illness – Half of all mental health disorders in adulthood start by age 14, but most cases are undetected/untreated.

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Adolescents Disease Burden cont’d

  • Depression is the third leading cause of illness and disability among adolescents, and suicide is the third leading cause of death in older adolescents.
  • Alcohol and drugs – harmful drinking, substance abuse; leads to reduced self control and increased risky behavior.
  • Malnutrition and obesity – WHO considers adolescent obesity to be an epidemic of global proportion.
  • Endemic diseases – Malaria, TB, Schistosomiasis
  • Harmful traditional practices e.g female genital mutilation.

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ADOLESCENT HEALTH ISSUES

  • Mental Health
  • Infectious diseases (Including STIs and HIV/AIDS)
  • Sex and Reproductive Health
  • Nutrition
  • Physical Activity
  • Substance use/abuse
  • Violence

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CURRENT GLOBAL STRATEGIES

  • Global strategy for women’s, children’s and adolescents’ health (2016-2030)
  • Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AAHA, 2017)

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FOCUS OF GLOBAL STRATEGIES

  • Increased advocacy and awareness about Adolescent health and related issues
  • Institution and promotion of Adolescent friendly health and related services in health institutions and at all levels of health care delivery
  • Increased funding for Adolescent health and related services
  • Promoting research about the Adolescent
  • Law, policies and quality standards concerning adolescent health and well being

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THE ADOLESCENT INTERVIEW

  • Clinician should be knowledgeable
  • Environment should be adolescent friendly
  • Communication should be empathic, respectful, non-judgmental, and non-discriminatory
  • Promote confidentiality and trust
  • Recognize the relevance of parents/caregivers, schools , and the community
  • Promote adolescent rights and priviledges

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ADOLESCENT INTERVIEW

  • HOME
  • EDUCATION/EMPLOYMENT
  • ACTIVITIES
  • DRUGS
  • SEXUAL STATUS (Sex and Reproductive Health)
  • SUICIDE
  • SAFETY

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Recommendations on Adolescent Health

  • Provide these services or develop capacity to:
  • Adolescent – friendly health services
  • Information and (Social) skills
  • Safe and supportive environment.
  • Health and counseling services in the community
  • Health promoting schools (Foster learning in a healthy environment)
  • Improving hygiene and nutrition

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Recommendations on Adolescent Health cont’d

  • Parenting interventions/programs to help strengthen the ties between adolescents and their families are important.
  • Adolescent participation and interventions to promote competence, confidence, connection, character and caring.
  • Strategies to preventing and responding to all forms of violence.
  • Sexual and reproductive health including comprehensive sexuality education, contraception.
  • Communicable diseases – prevention, early detection and prompt treatment.

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Recommendations on Adolescent Health cont’d

  • Routine vaccinations e.g. Human papilloma virus, Hepatitis B, DT, Rubella, CSM vaccines.
  • Non-communicable diseases- structural, environmental, organization, community, interpersonal and individual level of interventions to promote healthy behavior like adequate nutrition, exercise, no tobacco, no drugs, no alcohol.
  • Mental health – Early detection, prompt management.
  • Programming for universal health coverage.
  • Health education, awareness
  • Applying various Screening tools when consulting

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Why Invest on Adolescent Health?

  • Adolescents have fundamental rights to life, development and health services (committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC).
  • Triple dividend: - For adolescents now

- For adolescents’ future lives

- For the next generation

  • It reinforces gains made from early childhood and maintains success achieved in childhood.
  • Wider economic and societal gains

- Greater productivity, reduced health costs

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WHAT WAY FORWARD FOR US?

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ADOLESCENT HEALTH IN BHUTH-THE CCAHD

  • The Centre for Child and Adolescent Health & Development (CCAHD) provides adolescent health friendly services in an environment that is friendly and conducive for interaction with adolescents
  • These services include:
  • Adolescent Health Clinic
  • Adolescent Health Screening
  • Caregiver and Adolescent Health Education as well as Psychosocial and Spiritual Support
  • Community Advocacy on Adolescent Health Issues

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Conclusion

      • Adolescence is a vulnerable period that requires special attention. Developing the capacity of the adolescents and the community in which they exist to provide the essential health and social services is now imperative for all humanity.

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Bibliography

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  • Introduction to Adolescent Health. Global accelerated action for the health of adolescents (AA-HA!): case for action. May, 2017.
  • World Health Organization. Adolescents’ Health Risks and Solutions. Fact sheet May, 2017. www.who.int
  • Moser SE and Netson KL. Behavioral Problems in Children and Adolescents In: Rakel RE and Rakel DP. Textbook of Family Medicine. 9th ed. Canada: Elsevier Saunders; 2016 p.452-467.
  • World Health Organization. Child and Adolescent Health. WHO Regional Office for Africa 2009.

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THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

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Bibliography cont’d

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  • Federal Ministry of Health: National Policy on the Health and Development of Adolescents and Young people in Nigeria. 2007
  • World Health Organization: Sexual and Reproductive Health. Dec., 2016; 95:15, WHO.
  • Mark HB, Robert SP, Thomas VJ, Justin LK, Michael B. editors. The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy 18th ed. USA (NJ): Merck and Co. Inc; 2006. p. 56-61.
  • Milos P. Adolescent Obesity.

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=MilosPesic

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