Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health PDF

# Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health ## Adolescence and Adolescent Development ### Meaning of adolescence - Adolescence is the transition from childhood to adulthood. - It is a phase rather than a fixed time period in an individual's life. - This transition involves physical, physiological,...

# Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health ## Adolescence and Adolescent Development ### Meaning of adolescence - Adolescence is the transition from childhood to adulthood. - It is a phase rather than a fixed time period in an individual's life. - This transition involves physical, physiological, psychological, cognitive, social and economic changes. - The adolescent period allows time for preparation to fit into adult roles in a more complex society. ### Definition of adolescent - The WHO defines an adolescent as individuals in the 10-19 year age group and “youth” as the 15-24 years age group. - These two groups overlap in the group "young people" covering the age range 10-24 years. - Adolescence is one of the most critical periods of an individual’s life. - This period is characterized by enormous physical and psychological changes. - The growth and development processes are accompanied by stresses which lead to behaviors that affect the adolescent’s health. - Full maturity is reached about 16-18 years for girls and 18-20 for boys. ## Adolescent development - Biological processes drive growth and development with the onset of puberty marking the passage from childhood to adolescence. - Many African cultures recognize and celebrate the adolescent stage of life and transition to adulthood for example the 'Dipo' pubertal rites of the Krobos and the 'Bragoro' of the Ashantis. - Mention the development to be identified in these areas: - Physical - Emotional - Cognitive - Social - Spiritual ## Characteristics of adolescent development - Physical maturation - Sexual maturation - Movement towards social and economic independence - Development of identity - Acquisition of skills needed to carry out adult relationship and roles. - Capacity for abstract reasoning - Cognitive development - Spiritual development - Emotional and social development - Values and morals ## Stages and Characteristics of adolescent development ### Early Adolescent (10-13 years) - Onset of puberty and rapid growth - Impulsive and experimental behavior increases - Abstract thinking begins - Spheres of influence extends beyond own family - Increasing concern for their image and peers acceptance ### Middle Adolescence (14-16 years) - Physical growth and development continues - Starts to challenge rules and test limits - Develops more analytical skills and greater awareness of behavioural consequences - Stronger peer influence especially on image and social behavior - Increasing interest in sex and special relationships begin with opposite sex - Greater willingness to accept their own beliefs than that of others ### Late Adolescence (17-19 years) - Reaches physical maturity - Improved problem solving abilities - Greater self-identification - Peer influence declines - Re-integration into family - Intimate relationship more important - Increased ability to make adult choices and assume adult responsibilities - Movement into vocational life phase ## Adolescent development - NB: Adolescents are uniquely vulnerable to risk taking, this is because novelty and sensation seeking increase at this stage but development of self regulation lags behind. ## Physical Changes Associated with Adolescence - **In males:** - There is broadening of the chest and shoulder. - Hair grows at the axillary and pubic areas. - Increase in penis, testicles and scrotum. - Growth of beard. - Increase in muscle mass, weight and height. - Breaking and deepening of voice. - They begin to produce sperms (spermarche) leading to night seminal emissions wet dreams. - They eat more. - Increase in sebaceous gland activity leading to oily skin and pimples. - They sweat a lot due to hormones and so they tend to emit some odour under their armpit and other parts of the body. - **In females:** - Breast development. - Rounded hip and narrowing of the waist. - Increased fat deposition at the buttocks. - Vaginal lubrication and wetness. - Pubic and axillary hair growth. - Increase in sebaceous gland activity leading to pimples. - Starts to ovulate so can become pregnant without protective sex. - Menarche (Some girls may experience slight pain during ovulation (mittelschmerz). - The length of the menstrual cycle differs for each girl. ## Psychological/ Emotional changes for both sexes - Attracted to the opposite sex. - They value intimate relationship. - They become curious. - Anger. - Shyness. - Mood swing. ## Social Changes in both sexes - Makes friends. - Outgoing for recreation. - Attracted to the opposite sex. - Respects peer views and decisions. - Wants to be recognized as an adult. - Want independence and privacy. - Move around in small groups of same sex and peers. - They desire for sex. - They pay more attention to their appearance. - They are conscious about their appearance. ## Mental Changes - Fast thinking. - Ability to make decisions. - Gain experience. - Development of new skills. - They are curious. - They are imaginative and fantasize a lot. - They are able to differentiate between good and bad. - They question many of the social norms. ## Concerns of the Adolescent - Both sexes usually have concerns about: - Pimples. - Hygiene. - Development compared with their peers. - Masturbation. - Females are more concerned with: - Their breast size. - Menstrual problems like amenorrhea, dysmenorrheal, pre-menstrual syndrome. - Painful intercourse. - Males are concerned with: - Wet dreams. - Premature ejaculation. - Spontaneous erection. - Penis size. - Scrotum size. - Priapsim. - Swelling of the scrotum. - Undescended testes. ## What factors do you think can affect the development of the adolescent? ## Factors that influence adolescent development - Two important factors also influence growth and development, which are: - **Internal factors:** genetic make up inherited - **External factors:** environmental factors such as - Nutrition/Exercise - Place of abode - Parental/family influence - Peer influence - Media - School/church/mosque ## What do you think are the effects of these changes on the adolescent? - Physical - Social - Intellectual - Emotional ## Effects of physical changes on adolescents - They sleep longer. - They are clumsy because of growth spurts and body parts growing at different rates. - Girls become sensitive about weight. - They become worried if not physically developing at the same rate as peers. - They feel awkward about showing affection to the opposite sex parent. - They ask more direct questions about sex in the bid to figure out values around sex. ## Effects of social and emotional development - They become pre-occupied with their looks, eg presence of acne or pimples, body shape, etc. - Crave for privacy and seek separate identity from their parents.. - Become concerned about how the opposite sex perceives them. - Become aware of their sexual desires and arousal. - Develop the desire to belong and be accepted. - Desire to be like their peers creating peer pressure. ## Effects of cognitive development - There is development of all aspects of intelligence, eg judgement, reasoning, memory mature rapidly. - They are no longer satisfied with just following instructions without having an understanding as well as their inputs. - They may challenge or rebel. ## Values and moral development - Adolescents at this stage are searching for something to believe in that will give meaning to their lives. - This may lead to increased religious activity and possible fanaticism. ## Effects of these changes - Expect inconsistency in responsibility taking and decision making. - Spend more time with friends. - May keep a journal. - They ask more questions about sexuality. - Begin to lock bedroom doors. - Involved in multiple hobbies/clubs. - They become more argumentative. ## How do we think we can guide or help them during this period - Health workers. - Parents. - Other adults, e.g. teacher, youth leaders, community leaders, etc. ## Tips for parents/guardians and health workers - Avoid criticizing and comparing to others. - Encourage enough sleep. - Encourage model healthy eating. - Encourage model engagement in healthy physical activities. - Provide honest answers about sex. - Encourage involvement in groups. - Praise for efforts and abilities. - Help explore career goals and options. - Know friends and what they are doing. - Provide structured environment and clear expectations.