Global Trends in Adolescent Health

Abstract

Increasingly, morbidity and mortality trends for young people in developing nations are paralleling those in the industrialized world. As infectious causes of mortality diminish, unintentional injuries, suicide, homicide, war, and maternal mortality represent the primary causes of death in the second decade of life for most nations where data are maintained. As developing nations increasingly place priority on the education of their youth, early marriage and precocious child rearing are discouraged, and other problems, such as out-of-wedlock childbirth and illicit abortions, emerge. Problems such as substance abuse and suicide arise with the urban migration, increased unemployment, and disruption of traditional social structures that are experienced as developing countries industrialize.

Theories of Adolescent Risk-Taking Behavior

“…For example, despite similar ages of sexual debut, the United States has the highest rates of adolescent childbearing and abortion in the developed world (Blum, 1991). This is thought to be related to differing cultural attitudes toward adolescent sexuality and contraception (Perry, Kelder, & Komro, 1993).…”

Nutritional status of 11–12-year-old Jamaican children: coexistence of under- and overnutrition in early adolescence

“…Adolescence is the transition period between childhood and adulthood and comprises persons aged 10-19 years 1 . Adolescents account for a disproportionately large percentage of the population in some developing countries 2 and this proportion is expected to increase in relation to other age groups 3 . The demography has generated much interest in health and its social implications in these countries.…”

Mental-Physical Comorbidity in Korean Adults: Results from a Nationwide General Population Survey in Korea

“…Socioeconomic burden of mental and chronic physical disorders has been growing despite the remarkable progress in public health management during the last century. 11 12 In 1977, Gruenberg proposed the concept of "the failure of success", asserting that the technological success in reduction of mortality rate not only extended the life expectancy, but also increased average duration of chronic physical and mental conditions. 13 Consequently, comorbidity of mental and physical disorders has become a major challenge to medicine and public health.…”