Part-Two

Reproductive Health Risks and its consequences for adolescents

 

Adolescent reproductive health is affected by;

•      Pregnancy , Abortion, STIs and Sexual violence,

•      Limited access to information and clinical services.

•      Nutrition

•      Psychological well-being

•      Economic and gender inequities

Pregnancy:

•      Pregnancy and childbirth carry greater risk of morbidity and mortality for adolescents than for women in their 20s, especially where medical care is scarce.

•      Potentially life- threatening pregnancy-related illnesses such as hypertension and anemia also are more common among adolescent mothers, especially where malnutrition is endemic.

•      Children born to adolescents are more likely to die during their first five years of life than those born to women age 20-29

Unsafe abortion:

•      About 1 in 10 abortions worldwide occurs among women age 15-19.

•      Each year 1 million to 4.4 million adolescents in developing countries undergo abortion, and most of these procedures are performed under unsafe conditions

STIs, including HIV/AIDS

•      The highest rates of infection for STIs, including HIV, are found among young people aged 20 to 24yr

•      Worldwide (333 million each year) (each day half a million) sexually transmitted infections

•      Half of all sexually transmitted infections occur in adolescents.

•      Sexually transmitted infections can lead to life-long health problems, including infertility, psychological trauma or death.

Sexual violence

•      Sexual abuse occurs worldwide.

•      Rape and involuntary prostitution can result in

•      Physical trauma,

•      Unintended pregnancy,

•      STIs,

•      Psychological trauma

Psychological and socio-economic consequences of pregnancy for unmarried adolescents

•      Psychological stress, poor self-esteem, lack of hope and social stigma.

•      Disrupted education, poor academic achievement.

•      Leaving home and prostitution.

•      Poor socio-economic future, poor earning capacity: fewer career or job opportunities.

•      Unstable marriage.

•      Unwanted child- mistreated, abandoned.

•      Their children face psychological, social and economic obstacles.

Causes for early unprotected sexual intercourse in
adolescents

•      Lack of knowledge on physiology of the reproductive system and human sexuality.

•      Declining age of menarche.

•      Early marriage

•      Urbanization, migration, western cultural influences.

•      Sexual violence and coercion.

•      Peer influence.

•      Lack of knowledge on family planning.

To be continue......