Global trends in adolescent health

Article Abstract:

During the 1980s, the health and well-being of the world's youth were highlighted by such global activities as the International Year of Youth in 1985 and the technical discussions about the health of youth at the World Health Organization in 1989. Interest in education has been increasing, along with concern about the effects of industrialization and urbanization. The outcome of these trends has been to narrow the gap between health problems of young people in developing and developed countries. Demographic trends, including the impact of improvements in childhood survival with no reductions in birth rates, are discussed briefly. Education is becoming more available in most countries, and women are increasingly able to take advantage of new opportunities. Health problems during the second decade of life are often related to sexual behavior, contraception, pregnancy and childbearing. Delayed marriage resulting from more schooling increases premarital sex, out-of-wedlock pregnancies, and sexually transmitted diseases. American teens are far more likely to get pregnant than European teens, but less likely to opt for abortion. Even so, the US abortion rate surpasses that of most developed nations. Many young women in developing countries die during pregnancy and childbirth. In countries where abortion is not legal, illegal abortion is a major cause of maternal mortality. Accidents are the leading cause of death during the second decade, followed by suicide. Homicide and war are significant causes of death, but accurate statistics are difficult to obtain. In the United States, homicide is the third leading cause of death, and the probability of a black male being killed is 500 percent greater than it is for his white counterpart. In conclusion, health services for youth are often not available, or if they are available they are not effectively protecting this age group because of obstacles to the use of services. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Patient outcomes, International aspects, Mortality

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Adolescent medicine

Article Abstract:

A review of recent advances in two areas relevant to adolescent health care is provided: the interplay between biology and behavior, and new understanding of the relationships among health, health risk behavior, and achievement. Psychoneuroendocrinology, the field that studies how hormones affect behavior, has demonstrated the importance of male and female sex hormones in influencing the brain. These effects are even present prior to birth, when exposure to certain hormones prepares the fetal nervous system to respond in specific ways. The tremendous surge in testosterone (an 18-fold increase) during male puberty is associated with aggression, due, in part, to the hormone's effect on the brain. Different responses to stress by the two sexes may have an endocrinologic and a sociologic basis. Social realities strongly influence adolescents. Japanese investigators, who studied reasons why the US has lost its competitive lead in the world marketplace, described the lack of support for the education of young people in this country. The Carnegie Corporation Council on Adolescent Development concluded that millions of young people cannot satisfy basic workplace requirements. It has also been noted that as school failure increases, health status declines. Pregnancy and early sexual intercourse are associated with school failure, but pregnancy does not cause failure; the girl who becomes pregnant is already two years behind the girl who does not. More is now known about protective factors that work to reduce high-risk health behaviors, such as flexible personality structures, supportive families, and supportive environments. Adolescents need health programs that address educational, vocational, and employment needs, as well as basic health care needs. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Reports, Risk factors, Physiological aspects, Demographic aspects, Testosterone, Risk factors (Health), Teenage pregnancy, Health status indicators, Puberty, Hormones, Sex, Sex hormones

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American Indian-Alaska Native youth health

Article Abstract:

Native American adolescents may be more likely to behave in ways that compromise their health than other adolescents, and they may have a higher incidence of emotional problems. A survey of 13,454 Native American adolescents in the seventh through 12th grades found that 2% reported poor physical health, and 5.7% had symptoms of severe emotional distress. Forty-four percent of the students never wore seatbelts, 37.9% of 10th through 12th graders admitted drinking and driving, and 21.8% rode in a car with an driver who had been drinking or using drugs. Ten percent were physically abused, and 13.3% were sexually abused. Almost 17% had attempted suicide, and 11% had known someone who committed suicide. Sixty-five percent of the male students and 56.8% of the female students had sexual intercourse by the 12th grade. Weekly or more frequent use of alcohol increased from 8.2% of the seventh graders to 14.1% of the 12th graders. Use of marijuana increased from 31.2% of the junior high school students to 50.1% of the high school students.

Native Americans, Native North Americans

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