Adolescent health has lagged behind improvements in the healthcare of younger children over the past 50 years. There are 1.8 billion adolescents (between 10 and 24 years of age) worldwide, who account for more than a quarter of the global population. The following paragraph on key issues in adolescent health is summarised from articles in The Lance This overlap encompasses all persons between the ages of 10 and 24 years - referred to as young people. Furthermore, a youth has been defined as someone in the 15 - 24-year age group. The duration of this transition varies owing to geographical, cultural, economic and genetic contexts, although it has been defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as being in the 10 - 19-year age group. This transition is driven by biological processes, such as the onset of puberty, which subsequently terminates in sexual and physical maturation. Socially, it serves as a point of evolution into the maturity of acquiring an adult role with the appropriate privileges and related responsibilities. 'Protean has positive connotations of flexibility, versatility and adaptability.' (Wikipedia) Īdolescence marks a period of transition in both physical and psychological growth, which intervenes between childhood and adulthood. In Greek mythology, Proteus is god of 'elusive sea change' and will change his shape to avoid certain situations. Some indicators of disease can serve as diagnostic markers and help healthcare workers to avoid complications and manage a disorder efficiently. We particularly emphasise the continuum from birth to old age, during which early events may produce lifelong diseases, and which requires serious attention with regard to preventive measures during the earliest period of susceptibility. We also discuss allergies, exposure to pollutants, indoor open stoves, and behavioural factors, such as lack of exercise, unhealthy diet, substance abuse, injuries and violence, and sexually transmitted diseases, which contribute to a risky environment. The major NCDs are: obesity, diabetes, maternal, newborn and child, hypertension and mental health disorders. This article focuses on adolescents as a group, who are exposed to major changes in their near future, with the key transformation being the epidemiological transition from the age of infectious and nutritional problems to that of the non-communicable disorders (NCDs).
IIIPhD, MBA Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health Systems (MatCH), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
IIMB ChB Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health Systems (MatCH), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa IMBBS, FC Paed (SA), MSc, MD Maternal, Adolescent and Child Health Systems (MatCH), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa H Coovadia I Y Jugnundan II A Ramkissoon III