Adolescence

Question 1

How do WHO define adolescence?

Answer 1

Age 10-19

Question 2

How do WHO define youth?

Answer 2

15-24

Question 3

How do WHO define young people?

Answer 3

10-24

Question 4

What has happened to the number of adolescents using tobacco, alcohol and drugs in recent years?

Answer 4

It has decreased

Question 5

Why is adolescence a particularly important period of life to look at in terms of public health?

Answer 5

Many of the factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, tobacco/alcohol/dug use, mental health problems which can cause premature death start in adolescence

Question 6

What key changes in brain development occur in adolescence?

Answer 6

Increase in number of neurons in the frontal cortex
Synaptic pruning (loss of approximately 15% of grey matter)
Myelination of axons

Question 7

The development of concrete thinking during adolescence includes…?

Answer 7

Development of sexual orientation

Reassessment and restructuring of body image

Question 8

The emergence of abstract thinking in adolescence includes…?

Answer 8

Growing verbal abilities

Conventional morality

Question 9

The development of complex abstract thinking in adolescence includes…?

Answer 9

Impulse control

Post conventional morality

Question 10

Smoking, drinking, drug use and sexual risk taking increase particularly between what ages?

Answer 10

12-15

Question 11

What are the risk factors for smoking, drinking, drug use and sexual risk taking in adolescents?

Answer 11

Peer pressure
Low parental monitoring
Low socioeconomic status
Lack of future aspirations
Depression

Question 12

What are the protective factors for smoking, drinking, drug use and sexual risk taking in adolescents?

Answer 12

Self esteem
Close relationships with parents and carers
Perceived control over life

Question 13

What are the maternal issues which arise due to teenage pregnancy?

Answer 13

Increased risk of obstetric complications
Poor education outcomes
Decreased employ,ent opportunities
Reliance kn benefits and poverty

Question 14

What are the issues of teenage pregnancy regarding the baby?

Answer 14

Low birth weight
Increased risk of SIDS, non accidental hospitalisation, developmental delay i preschool years
Poverty
Teenage pregnancy in the child

Question 15

What are the key strategies to combat problems associated with teenage pregnancy?

Answer 15

Education with school based links
Contraceptive services
Antenatal care

Question 16

What is child sexual exploitation?

Answer 16

A person under 18 is sexually exploited when they are coerced into sexual activities by one or more persons who have deliberately targeted their youth and inexperience in order to exercise power over them