Adolescent and youth reproductive health
Adolescence is defined as the period of a young person's life between the ages of 10 and 19 years and Young people or youth as those in ages between 10-24 years (WHO). It is a special time, a time of transition from childhood to adulthood. During this transition to adulthood, adolescents develop biologically and psychologically and move towards independence.
The population of Ethiopia is rapidly growing, 2.6% per annum, that puts tremendous pressure on the country's health service infrastructures. One of the most effective interventions to address the rapid population growth is to empower young people to make informed choices about their reproductive health including their desired fertility.
To address the reproductive health of adolescent and youth, various national policies and strategies including the National Youth policy issued in 2000 and the National Adolescent and Youth RH strategy covering the period 2006-2015 as well as the minimum service package were developed. Despite all these government commitments, the reproductive health services of adolescent and youth are still poor in Ethiopia.
Health care providers, counsellors and health extension workers need to understand the health, social and economic problems of adolescents and youth and to be able to help adolescents and youth to attain a desired state of reproductive health well being. It is also important for health extension workers to acknowledge the reproductive rights of adolescents and youth as a key foundation for service provision.
Definition of Terms
- Health is a state of physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
- Reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, in all matters related to the reproductive system and its functions and process.
- Adolescents are individuals in the 10-19 years age group. Adolescence is a phase rather than a fixed time period in an individual's life.
- Early adolescents correspond to ages 10-13 years and is characterised by a spurt of growth and the beginnings of sexual maturation.
- Middle adolescents individuals in the 14 -16-years age group.
- Late adolescent and youth are individuals in the 17- 24 years age group.
- Young people: - refer to those between 10-24 years age group as defined by the World Health Organization.