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 Adolescent
is defined by WHO as a person between 10-19 years of age. There are about
1.2 billion adolescents worldwide and one in every five people in the
world is an adolescent. Adolescents constitute 18-25% of the population
in member countries of South East Asia Region.
Although adolescents are generally considered to be healthy yet
many of them die prematurely due to accidents, suicide violence,
pregnancy related complications and other preventive or treatable
illnesses. Adolescence is a phase of rapid growth and development during
which physical, sexual and emotional changes occur. Adolescents are not
homogeneous group and their needs vary with their gender, stage of
development, life circumstances and the socio economic conditions in
which they live.
WHO, along with its partners, UNICEF and UNFPA, advocate
an accelerated approach to promoting the health and development of
adolescents and young people in the second decade of life, the common agenda outlines the actions needed to provide
adolescents with support and opportunities.
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