Life Cycle Approach to Adolescent health

Adolescent is a period in which an individual undergo through physical and psychological changes. He also experiences social expectations and perceptions. Physical growth and development is accompanied by sexual maturation leading to intimate relationship.

WHO defines 'adolescent' as an individual of 10-19 years of age, 'youth' as 15-24 years of age and 'young people' as 10-24 years of age.

Adolescent individual defers in sex ,stage of development, life circumstances and their socio- economic status.

Adolescent life cycle approach helps to prevent about 1,20,000 deaths that occurs every year due to road traffic accident, violence, suicide, HIV, and pregnancy related problems.

Boys and Girls are affected by socio-economic status, gender norms and values.

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Teenage pregnancy and its complications

Teenage pregnancy is also called Adolescent pregnancy. It is the pregnancy before the age of 20 . It occurs due to sexual intercourse after menarch (onset of menstrual cycle) or just before first period. Menarch usually takes place at the age of 12-13. The girls under the age of 15years are not physically and biologically fully developed because of which they are less likely to undergo healthy pregnancy or give birth to a baby. The girls aged 15-19years are highly associated with complications like eclampsia, postpartum infections, preterm birth , low weight baby and anemia . The main reason of teenage pregnancy is socio-economic status of the society, poor education and poverty. Gender discrimination also plays an important role. Due to this girls are not allowed to take their own decisions,less access to family planning and mal nutrition and poor health care is experienced by mother during and after pregnancy. Girls Education and Providing knowledge about Family Planning

Barker hypothesis

Given by David barker by 1990. Through his cohort studies he states that there is a direct link between a low birth weight baby and preterm baby with Coronary heart disease, Hypertension and non insulin dependent diabetes mallitus in adulthood. This is mainly due to poor Nutrition of the mother before and during pregnancy. The mother should have modifications in health and Nutrition before and during pregnancy and mode of delivery (institutional delivery should be preferred). This will prevent or reduce the complications in baby and treatment of Malnutrition and Metabolic Syndrome is done.

Low birth weight baby (LBW)

Low birth weight is defined as weight of new born less than 2500gm, regardless of gestational age . Causes: Premature birth - Born early - Before 37 weeks of pregnancy - premature baby has less time in mother's womb (uterus) to grow and gain weight. Much of the baby's weight is gained during the last week of pregnancy. Intrauterine growth retardation - Baby do not grow well during the pregnancy- due to problem with: Placenta Mother's health Baby's health Baby can be: Full term- B orn on 37-41 week of pregnancy. These babies may be physically mature but small. Premature- These babies are both very small and immature. Risk factors for LBW: Infections during pregnancy Not gaining enough weight during pregnancy Previous pregnancy with the low birth weight baby Smoking Alcohol or drug use Age less than 17 or more than 35 Diagnosis of LBW: Mother's weight gain during pregnancy Fundal height Ultrasound- more accurate Bab

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Barker hypothesis