reproductive health services for adolescents - Pathfinder International

Module 16/Transparencies
Transparency 2.1: Health Problems of Adolescents
Psychological Problems
• Increased depression, sometimes as serious as a suicide ideation and attempts,
disproportionately affect adolescents.
Nutritional Problems
• Undernourishment and overnourishment are increasing problems among
adolescents.
Injuries from Accidents
• Unintentional injury is the leading cause of death among young people;
interpersonal violence is increasing.
Substance Misuse
• Illicit drug use is becoming more widespread; tobacco and alcohol use patterns
are established in youth and young adulthood.
Reproductive Health Problems
• Maturation Issues
• Menstrual irregularities and hormonal imbalances often accompany the
menses in the early years before regular menstruation is established. Boys
experience premature ejaculation.
• Unwanted Pregnancy
• High proportions of pregnancies among 15-19 year old women are mistimed
or unwanted.
• Too-Early Childbearing
• Worldwide, more than 10% of all births are to women 15-19, and in the least
developed countries, teens account for 17%.
• Unsafe Abortion
• Most of the estimated 1–4.4 million abortions among adolescents per year are
unsafe because they are performed illegally, under hazardous conditions,
and/or by unskilled practitioners.
• STI/HIV
• Each year, more than one-half of all new HIV infections occur in young people
under 25, and more than two-thirds of all reported STI infections occur among
this group in developing countries.
Pathfinder International
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Adolescent Curriculum