Health for the world's adolescents: a second chance in the second decade: summary
Overview
What must we do to improve and maintain the health of the world’s one billion adolescents? Health for the world’s adolescents is a World Health Organization (WHO) report fully addressing that question across the broad range of health needs of people ages 10–19 years. It was presented to Member States at the 2014 World Health Assembly in follow-up to its 2011 Resolution 64.28, Youth and health risks.
Health for the world’s adolescents is a dynamic, multimedia, online report (who.int/adolescent/second-decade). It describes why adolescents need specific attention, distinct from children and adults. It presents a global overview of adolescents’ health and health-related behaviours, including the latest data and trends, and discusses the determinants that influence their health and behaviours. It features adolescents’ own perspectives on their health needs.
The report brings together all WHO guidance concerning adolescents across the full spectrum of health issues. It offers a state-of-the-art overview of four core areas for health sector action:
• providing health services
• collecting and using the data needed to advocate, plan and monitor health sector interventions
• developing and implementing health-promoting and health-protecting policies and
• mobilizing and supporting other sectors.
The report concludes with key actions for strengthening national health sector responses to adolescent health.
The website will be the springboard for consultation with a wide range of stakeholders leading to a concerted action plan for adolescents.
The report seeks to focus high-level attention on health in the crucial adolescent years and to provide the evidence for action across the range of adolescent health issues. Thus, it addresses primarily senior and mid-level staff of ministries of health and health sector partners, such as nongovernmental organizations, United Nations organizations and funders. It will likely interest many others, too – for example, advocates, service providers, educators and young people themselves.
The report has benefited from the contribution and inputs of WHO experts at country, regional and global levels and across health issues including use of alcohol and other psychoactive substances, HIV, injuries, mental health, nutrition, sexual and reproductive health, tobacco use and violence.
This document highlights key aspects of the report Health for the world’s adolescents.