1. MEANING OF ADOLESCENCE
AND ITS IMPLICATIONS FOR
PUBLIC HEALTH

2. WHAT I REMEMBER ABOUT MY
ADOLESCENCE
Aims of the session
• To share key experiences on adolescence
• To discuss positive and negative experiences
of adolescence
• To compare experiences of adolescents today
and those of 10 – 20 years ago

3. Write down one key experience of
your own adolescence that
remains alive in your memory

4. 1. Are the experiences of
adolescents today different from
those 10 – 20 years ago?
2. Please give reasons to support
your answer

5. THE NATURE AND SEQUENCE OF
CHANGES AND EVENTS
TAKING PLACE DURING ADOLESENCE
Aim of the session:
• To help participants understand the nature
and sequence of changes that occurs during
adolescence.

6. Definitions
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO)
• Adolescence covers ages 10 to 19 years
(It is the transitional period from childhood to
adulthood)
• Youth covers ages 15 to 24
• Young people covers ages 10 to 24 years
The national youth policy defines young people as ages
10 to 24 years regardless of marital status.

7. Nature and sequence of changes and events during adolescence
Events / changes Early Middle Late
that occur adolescence adolescence adolescence
(10 – 13) (14 -16) (17 – 19)
Physical
Psychological:
Cognitive
Emotive
Social

8. NEEDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE
Aim of the session
• To discuss the needs of young people and how
those needs could be met

9. The needs of young people should be
considered in terms of
• Offering opportunities
• Enhancing capabilities
• Offering second chances

10. P o lic ie s a f f e c t in g h u m a n
c a p it a l f o r m a t io n d u r in g
y o u t h t r a n s it io n s
L o w li
te In e x p e
k n o w le ra c y a n d ri
E c o n o m y w id e p o lic ie s a n d dg d as de ence C o n seq
s k ills d e o f b a s ic c
in s t it u t io n s : m a c r o s t a b ilit y , es
p r im a r p ite h ig h e r
m a k e rs is io n uences
y co S till fo of poo
in v e s t m e n t c lim a t e , In s u ffi m p le tio n rm o u tc o m r
g o v e r n a n c e , la b o u r m a r k e t
c ie n
to s e c o t a c c e s s id e n tity in g lo n g e r e s Y o u th
r e g u la t io n s
nd
te rtia r y a ry a n d p re fere an d l
th a n f o a s tin g f r ie n d ly
n
E d u c a t io n
educat
F e w jo
io n la c k o f c e s ra
R e m e d d u lts p o lic ie s
o p p o rt b re so u r ia ti
T r a in in g u ce c o s tly o n
H e a lt h s e r v ic e s
N o p la n itie s
tf M yopi s fo r
c iv ic e o rm f o r a
W e lf a r e a n d f a m ily ngagem ris k ta k a n d a d u lts
t
en in g
s e r v ic e s
I n f ra s tr u c tu r e
O p p o r t u n it ie s C a p a b ilit ie s S econd chances

11. • What are the health concerns of young
people?
• What do they think and feel about issues
concerning their health?
• How do they communicate this to adults

12. • What do the adolescent participants think
and feel about these perspectives?
• What do the adult Participants think and feel
about

13. COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS THAT
AFFECT YOUNG PEOPLE.
Aim of the session
• To familiarize the service providers with the
health problems affecting young people.

14. Group work
• What are the health problems affecting young
people in your district or community?
• Is the health problem or problem behaviour a
priority for you district or community?
• Who considers it a priority and why?

15. Classification of diseases and health related behaviours of young people in developing
countries
Diseases which are Diseases and unhealthy Diseases which Diseases and unhealthy •Diseases:
particular to young behaviours which manifest themselves behaviours of young
people affect young people primarily in young people whose major
disproportionately people but originate in implications are on the
childhood young persons future
health
Diseases: Diseases: Diseases: Diseases: Diseases:
Disorders of secondary Maternal morbidity Rheumatic heart STIs (including HIV) Malnutrition
sexual development and mortality disease Dental disease Malaria
Difficulties with STIs (including HIV) Gastroenteritis
psychosocial Tuberculosis Acute respiratory
development Schistosomiasis infections
Behaviours:
Suboptimal adolescent Intestinal helminthes Tobacco use
growth spurt
Mental disorders Alcohol and drug use
Poor diet
Behaviours: Lack of exercise
Alcohol use Unsafe sexual practices
Other substance abuse
Injuries
NB Young people will contribute a substantial number of cases because they form a large proportion of the population in most
developing countries.

16. Priority health problems affecting
young people
• Intentional and unintentional injuries
• Sexual and reproductive health problems,
including HIV/AIDS
• Substance use and abuse (tobacco, alcohol
and other substances
• Mental health problems
• Nutritional problems
• Endemic and chronic diseases

17. WHY INVEST IN YOUNG PEOPLE’S
HEALTH AND
DEVELOPMENT
Aim of the session
• To present important reasons for investing in
young people’s health and development

18. Is it essential that national and local
health leaders, planners and managers
pay particular attention to young
people’s health?

19. Three main reasons for investing in
adolescent health
• Health benefits for the individual adolescent – in
terms of his or her current and future health, and in
terms of the intergenerational effects
• Economic benefits: improved productivity, return on
investments, avert future health costs
• As a human right: adolescents (like other age groups)
have a right to achieve the highest attainable health

20. Guiding concepts for planning for
adolescent health and development
• Adolescence is a time of risk and opportunity
• Not all adolescents are equally vulnerable
• Adolescent development underlies prevention of
health problems
• Problems have common roots and are interrelated
• The social environment influences adolescent
behavior
• Gender considerations are fundamental