Adolescent Health

It is estimated that there are around 1.8 billion adolescents worldwide nowadays. This is the largest generation of adolescents and young people in human history. In May 2016, the third report of Lancet Series on Adolescent Health themed “Our Future” A Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Wellbeing” published has highlighted the updated health data on adolescents and the appropriate approach in addressing the health challenges faced by this significant group of world population.

Adolescence is a life phase in which the opportunities for health are great and future patterns of adult health are established. The changing patterns of adolescents’ health have the potential to undermine future population health as well as global economic development unless timely and effective strategies can be implemented. On the World Population Day in July 2014, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had made the following statement – “I call on all with influence to prioritize youth in development plans, strengthen partnerships with youth-led organizations, and involve young people in all decisions that affect them. By empowering today's youth, we will lay the groundwork for a more sustainable future for generations to come." Investment in children and youth at present stage will bring along more cost-effective returns to the entire population in future. This is why a focus on adolescence is crucial to the success of many public health agendas, including the Millennium Development Goals aiming to reduce child and maternal mortality and HIV/AIDS, and the more recent emphases on mental health, injuries, and non-communicable diseases.

According to WHO age definition, adolescents are referred to those aged 10-19 years although this age definition may vary in different parts of the world. As young people enter into adolescence, they bring with them new challenges and vulnerabilities. While most adolescents can transit to adulthood smoothly, some may encounter unusual difficulties or exposure to risk behaviours rendering themselves into unfavourable outcomes and long term consequences. New understandings of the diverse and dynamic effects on adolescent health include insights into the effects of puberty and brain development, together with social media. Greater attention to adolescence is needed within each of these public health domains in order to meet the global health targets.

Adolescents in Asia Pacific Region contribute to a significant proportion of young people worldwide. And yet the Adolescent Health Service in this region is still underdeveloped. Many young people are facing multiple health challenges without appropriate management which will jeopardize their long term health outcomes. As members of Asia Pacific Pediatric Association (APPA), we have to produce a coherent narrative and integrated work plan and strategies in response to the shifting paradigm and health determinants of adolescent and young adults in our region in order to secure the health of the future generations.

As APPA Technical Advisory Group on Adolescent Health, we propose the following agenda for the development of Adolescent Health in the region:

1. Short Term Strategies
   – Collection of data related to adolescent health in the region
   
   1. Epidemiology
      1. Adolescent population aged 10-19 years in different regions
      2. Top 3 Adolescent Health Challenges in different countries of APPA
      3. Common Morbidities and Mortalities for Adolescents in the region
      4. Major Mental Health and Behavioural Problems
   2. Services
      1. Age definition for local adolescent services
      2. Types of Adolescent Health services available in every region
      3. Different professional disciplines involved in adolescent health service
      4. Immunization profile provided by the government for adolescents
      5. Service gaps and areas where adolescent health issues have not been addressed
   3. Professional Training
      1. Types of professional training available for undergraduates and postgraduates
      2. Local examination system to qualify adolescent health as a new subspecialty
   4. Policy
      1. Local policy specific for adolescents in the region
      2. Government resources put into adolescent health
2. Intermediate Strategies
   - Setting up synergy in dealing with the most common and challenging adolescent health issues in the region
   
   5. Strategic Action Plans
      1. Planning of the TAG activities in short term, intermediate term and long term
      2. Target subgroups
      3. Measurable outcomes
   6. Resource Implications
3. Long Term Strategies
   - Impacts on Adolescent Health development in regard to national, regional and global perspectives
   
   7. Deliverables
      1. Effect on APPA
      2. Collaboration with the Global World

Useful Websites

• WHO Publications on Adol Health
• adolescentsourfuture.com
• www.aap.org/sections/adolescenthealth
• nahic.ucsf.edu/resources/resource_center/
• www.adolescenthealth.org/Home.aspx
• iaah.org
• www.unil.ch/euteach/home.html

Reading Materials

1. Adolescent and Young Adults Heath Care: A Practical Guide, Sixth Edition. Neistein
2. Provider Toolkit: Adolescent Healthcare 101 Module. Adolescent Health Working Group
3. Provider Toolkit: Behavioral Health. Adolescent Health Working Group
4. Provider Toolkit: Sexual Health Module 2010 Version. Adolescent Health Working Group

Report of activities from members of APPA