Over 1.2 million adolescents are dying each year from causes that are preventable, according to a report released in May by the World Health Organization and partners.
In the report, “Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents: Guidance to Support Country Implementation,” WHO and eight partners, including UNICEF and the World Bank, examined preventable deaths caused by unintentional injuries, violence, sexual and reproductive health problems, communicable and noncommunicable diseases, poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, mental health, substance abuse and suicide. Road traffic injuries, lower respiratory infections and suicide were the top causes of preventable deaths among all adolescents. More than two-thirds of the more than 3,000 adolescents who die every day live in low- and middle-income countries in Africa and Southeast Asia.
According to the report, adolescents have different physical, emotional, sexual and social needs that develop quickly. Health needs change based on location, age and sex. Adolescents represent one-sixth of the world’s population and make up 6 percent of the global burden for disease and injury. Many adolescents with health issues either do not know about available health services or are left out of care in their region.
“Relatively small investments focused on adolescents now will not only result in healthy and empowered adults who thrive and contribute positively to their communities, but it will also result in healthier future generations, yielding enormous returns,” said Flavia Bustreo, MD, assistant director-general of WHO, in a news release.
The report found that causes of adolescent death were different based on age and sex. Lower respiratory infections, often from indoor air pollution, were the leading cause for 10- to 14-year-old female adolescents. For 15- to 19-year-old female adolescents, reproductive health conditions such as pregnancy complications and unsafe abortions were the leading cause, according to the report.
For both 10- to 14-year-old and 15- to 19-year-old male adolescents, road injuries were the leading cause of preventable death, according to data from the report. Many male adolescents were pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists on the road.
Risks vary around the world. In the Americas, road injuries were the leading cause of death for 10- to 19-year-old adolescents, resulting in 22,600 deaths. In low- and middle-income countries in Africa, communicable diseases were the most common cause of preventable deaths, with lower respiratory infections being the leading cause and resulting in 21,800 deaths per year. In Europe, self-harm was the leading cause of preventable death and resulted in 7,600 deaths. Collective violence and legal intervention, which includes violence between nations and groups, was the leading cause in the Eastern Mediterranean region and caused 23,200 deaths.
The report noted that adolescents in humanitarian and fragile settings are at an even higher risk and need to be recognized. They take on adult responsibilities, such as caring for siblings and working. Such responsibilities can make them more likely to drop out of school, marry early and have unsafe sex — risk factors that can lead to unsafe behaviors and poor health outcomes.
According to the report, when public health provides quality health services, education and social support, adolescents will have healthier futures. It is important to promote healthy behaviors outside the health sector, too, because influences such as family, community and education impact adolescent health. Policymakers and program managers need to provide cost-effective interventions that take into account the needs of adolescents. By assessing the risks in different areas and frequently monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of the programs, adolescents and future generations will have fewer preventable deaths, the report concluded.
The report is available at http://www.who.int/maternal_child_adolescent/topics/adolescence/.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
