1. ADOLESCENT HEALTH
A.A.TRIVEDI

2. Introduction WHAT IS ADOLESCENCE :
The World Health Organization defines adolescence in terms of age between 10 to 19 years.
Adolescence is a phase of life during which individuals reach sexual maturity;
It is the period of transition from puberty to maturity
The age group identifies the period of adolescence.

3. Changes during adolescent period
Rapid physical growth and development.
Physical, social and psychological maturity
Sexual maturity and the onset of sexual activity;
Experimentation;
Development of adult mental processes and adult identity and
Transition from total socio-economic dependence to relative independence.
Stage of life in which individuals establish their own identities and prepare to become adults.

4. Statistics
Of the world’s 6.1 billion population in 2000, over one billion people (19.1 per cent) belonged to the age group.
One third of India’s population falls in yrs group.
Gujarat with 5 crore population has
about 1 crore adolescents in the state

5. Why adolescent health needs
Adolescents are an in-between group,
with some problem commonalties with
children, and with adults.
They are relatively healthy compared to
other lifecycle groups with similar
morbidity and mortality as adults
Their needs are Unique and invisible

6. However this group passes through very important phase of life and very fast growing phase of life.
Consequences of the effects on adolescent growth are far reaching and affects the whole generation..

7. Gender effects in adolescent period
For boys, adolescence can be a time for expanded participation in community and public life.
Girls, however, may experience more restrictions, with limited freedom of mobility
In addition, pressures derived from traditional gender roles as a mother and wife restrict girls’ future.
Boys also face societal and peer pressures,
encouraged to be risk-takers and
to demonstrate their manhood through aggressive behavior, thereby putting themselves and others in unsafe situations.

8. Issues Puberty Menarche Sexuality RTIs/ STIs HIV/AIDS Contraception
Reproductive & Sexual Health
Early Marriage & Early Pregnancy
Personality Building
Growth & Development
Education & Career Opportunities
Access to Adequate & Appropriate Information

9. Issues
Today, adolescents, and adolescent girls in particular, are the age group among whom HIV infection is most rapidly spreading.
Every year millions of young girls face unwanted and early pregnancy, unsafe abortion, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
All over the world, majority of adolescents, married and unmarried, in school and out of school, lack access to sexual and reproductive health information, education, and services.

10. Overview of Situation of Adolescents
A quarter of Indian women are married by 15 years
􀂊19% of TFR is contributed by years
High obstetric complications and deaths of teenage mothers
Unmet need for contraception among married adolescents is 27%
Half of new HIV infections is in years
Most drug users are below 20 years

11. Awareness regarding reproductive system and Contraception (N=745)
PERCENTAGE OF GIRLS
ABOUT FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
27 %
ABOUT MALE REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM
8 %
ABOUT MENSTRUAL PERIOD
88 %
ABOUT CONTRACEPTION
11 %

12. Menstrual Disorders (N =725)
* MULTIPLE RESPONSES WERE ALLOWED

13. Awareness about HIV-AIDS and other STI (N = 745)
DISEASE
AWARENESS
HIV-AIDS
66 %
GONORRHOEA
10 %
SYPHILIS

14. Awareness about preventive measures of HIV-AIDS (N = 491)
MODES OF PREVENTION
AWARENESS
USE OF CONDOMS
11.3 %
FAITHFUL RELATION SHIP
3.8 %

15. Demand for HIV-AIDS education
66 % GIRLS DEMANDED FOR HIV-AIDS EDUCATION IN THE SCHOOL.

16. What Young People have to say? Self revelation of fears
N=1440 %
Parents
Exams
No Fears
Gods curse
Teachers
Animals
307
255
206
156
119
103
21.3
17.7
14.3
10.8
8.3
7.2
* multiple responses

17. Difference is statistically highly significant
Age Wise Fear of Parents Among Adolescent Boys and Girls
Difference is statistically highly significant

18. Perceptions of the adolescents regarding their height and weight with the BMI grades
Perception about height and weight
Boys N=479
Girls N=474
Below Normal
Normal
Above Normal N %
Less
More 24 20 6
48.0
40.0
12.0
176 80 42
59.0
26.8
14.0 76 13
58.
9.9
32. 12
70.0
20.0
10.0
186 32
62.4
10.7
22.9 37 17 62
31.9
14.6
53.4
Total 50
10.4
298
62.2
131
27.3 60
12.6
62.9
116
24.5
Percentiles: < 5th=Below Normal , 5th – 85th: Normal and >85th= Above Normal

19. Lessons Learnt • Adolescents have large number of questions
and issues for which they do not have places
to approach and AFC is one the best option
• Majority of the needs are better addressed in
school and group environment
• Body Image,
School performance,
Reproductive Issues,
Emotional turmoil and
Career Guidance are forefront issues

20. School based services are so much
more in demand
Clinic based services are rarely utilized.
Teachers (and Parents) training is as
much important as the adolescents
counseling to address the issues of
adolescents…

21. Gujarat AFHS Strategy
A state wide Adolescent Friendly Health
Services (AFHS) Strategy has been approved.
This has been incorporated in State RCH2
UNFPA has provided technical assistance for this purpose.
Focus is on making PHCs and CHCs adolescent friendly through interventions such as:
Training of service providers,
Counselling,

22. In Order to Conclude……..
Adolescent Health and Development
Step Towards –
Better Adolescence
Responsible Adulthood
Reduce MMR and IMR
Reduce HIV/ AIDS Infection

23. thank you