Adolescent health and development

For children entering adolescence, new experiences bring new risks. Violence, abuse and exploitation can take different forms as children age. In addition to bullying and extreme discipline, adolescents may face gender-based violence, intimate partner violence and violence from gangs or armed groups. Adolescents who grow up in neglectful homes,…, Key facts, UNICEF’s work to keep adolescents safe and supported, Adolescents need support and protection in their homes, at school , in their social environments and online . To protect their rights and help them reach their full potential, UNICEF meets adolescents where they are – not only in their communities, but in justice and social welfare systems too. Our work: Supports parenting programmes to promote…, More from UNICEF, Resources, Adolescent Empowerment Technical Note Adolescent Empowerment Technical Note Improving the Safety, Protection, and Wellbeing of Adolescent Girls in Iraq Improving the Safety, Protection, and Wellbeing of Adolescent Girls in Iraq Adolescent participation in community engagement and SBCC in the Venezuelan migrant flow response in Colombia Adolescent…

During conflicts, natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies, adolescents shoulder immense burdens. They can be found on the frontlines of response efforts, protecting their communities and environments. Many are forced to drop out of school to help care and provide for their families. Others are cut off from education – and basic needs…, Investing in adolescents in humanitarian action, In all stages of humanitarian action, adolescents have much to contribute. Their knowledge on social dynamics and man-made disasters – like flooding, erosion, pollution, disease outbreak and more – helps countries prepare for, respond to, and recover from crises. And their firsthand experience of emergencies can bring nation-wide solutions for…, More from UNICEF, Resources, Adolescent Empowerment Technical Note Adolescent Empowerment Technical Note IASC Guidelines on Working with and for Young People in Humanitarian and Protracted Crises IASC Guidelines on Working with and for Young People in Humanitarian and Protracted Crises Improving the Safety, Protection, and Wellbeing of Adolescent Girls in Iraq Improving the…

Adolescents are 1.2 billion strong – and growing. They are directly affected by the decisions world leaders make in education, health and employment, but often excluded from the decision-making. Adolescents have strong views on the policies and programmes that shape their lives and communities. They have the right to be heard , the right to engage…, Promoting participation and civic engagement, Adolescents find many ways to participate in their societies – whether challenging injustice, fostering peace, or exploring innovative solutions to local challenges. Promoting civic engagement is key to UNICEF’s work. We empower adolescents and enable them to become drivers of change through a variety of actions. We promote policies and laws that…, More from UNICEF, Resources, Adolescent Empowerment Technical Note Adolescent Empowerment Technical Note Aims to provide a common understanding of adolescent empowerment in relation to UNICEF’s work and to support UNICEF staff and partners to translate the concept of adolescent empowerment into effective programmes. Parenting of Adolescents Programming Guidance Parenting of…

The second decade of life is a time of transformation. During adolescence (ages 10–19), girls and boys begin to interact with the world in new ways – taking chances, learning skills and experiencing unfamiliar emotions. They venture beyond their families to form powerful connections with peers. They search for ways to stand out and belong, to find…, Key facts, There are 1.2 billion adolescents worldwide – the largest cohort ever, and the most educated and urbanized. 90 per cent of adolescents live in low- and middle-income countries, and 125 million live in areas affected by armed conflict. Sub-Saharan Africa’s growing adolescent population, expected to reach 500 million by 2050, has the potential to…, A window of opportunity, The rapid physical and cognitive development that marks adolescence creates a critical window of opportunity. The adolescent brain develops at a rate unseen since early childhood – making girls and boys hypersensitive to influences in their environments. Adolescents’ inclination to try new things can spark innovation and achievement, but it can…, Resources, Adolescent Empowerment Technical Note Adolescent Empowerment Technical Note Aims to provide a common understanding of adolescent empowerment in relation to UNICEF’s work and to support UNICEF staff and partners to translate the concept of adolescent empowerment into effective programmes. Parenting of Adolescents Programming Guidance Parenting of…, UNICEF’s work with adolescents, Investing in adolescents strengthens their ability to advance human rights and build a bright future for themselves, their families and entire countries. UNICEF takes a life-course approach to adolescent development and participation, identifying critical risks and opportunities that have implications for the realization of children’s rights, from…

Achieving health results for children requires strong local capacities. Without effective management to support evidence-based planning, frequent monitoring and prompt course correction, even the most promising health programmes and policies can go astray. Communities need well-trained local practitioners to implement effective, equitable health…, Our approach, Strengthens health information systems Improves the use of data in planning and management Improves accountability mechanisms within governments and with communities UNICEF’s approach to strengthening district health systems brings children closer to quality, affordable care and services. Our efforts help local health professionals better use…, Learn more

In recent decades, the world has made significant strides improving health outcomes for children and adolescents. But inequities among and within countries persist. Especially in low- and middle-income countries, millions of children still do not have access to quality health care and services. The COVID-19 pandemic has reversed many of the gains…, UNICEF’s response, To help children survive and thrive, health systems need sufficient funding to be sustainable, resilient and inclusive. Strengthening health systems is critical to the supply and delivery of quality, affordable primary health care and to the achievement of universal health coverage. It expands access to the most vulnerable children and adolescents…, Community health workforce, Strong primary health care systems for children require skilled frontline professionals and community health workers. UNICEF works to build the capacity and skills of these people, providing the essential training and resources they need to thrive in their communities. Learn more, Quality of care, UNICEF works with governments to improve the quality of newborn, child, adolescent and maternal health care - especially at the community level. We do this through the development of cultural and age-appropriate health protocols and guidelines. We also train and equip health and allied personnel to better serve the needs of newborn babies,…, Strengthening supply chains, UNICEF works with governments and partners to strengthen supply chains crucial to the health sector. These supply chains are vital for getting products and medicines from manufacturers and into the hands of health care staff and their patients. Learn more, Data and digital health, UNICEF works with governments and partners to strengthen supply chains crucial to the health sector. These supply chains are vital for getting products and medicines from manufacturers and into the hands of health care staff and their patients. Learn more, National investment and governance, Governments and health administrations are indispensable partners in improving the lives of children. In coordination with partners, UNICEF supports governments to develop effective policies that strengthen health systems for children, especially for the most vulnerable. UNICEF helps governments to establish packages of care, incentive and…

Unintentional injuries, such as road traffic crashes, drowning, falls, burns and scalds and poisonings are the leading cause of death for children and adolescents worldwide. Globally, more than 1,600 children and adolescents below the age of 19-years die every day from preventable injuries. Of those injuries, road traffic crashes represent the…, Road traffic injuries, Globally, road traffic injuries represent the leading cause of death for those between the ages of 5 and 19.   On average, more than 600 children and adolescents die every day on our roads. That’s about one death every two minutes.  Almost all road traffic injury deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, with the highest rates in sub-…, Drowning, Drowning is another top killer, ranking among the ten leading causes of death for children and adolescents in every region of the world.   More than 260 children and adolescents lose their lives to drowning every day. That’s more than 10 deaths every hour.  More than 90 per cent of these drowning deaths happen in lower- and middle-income countries…, How UNICEF is responding, Preventing unintentional injuries such as road traffic fatalities and drownings demands concerted efforts across sectors. That includes health, child protection, education, urban planning and environment.   UNICEF’s efforts to prevent unintentional injuries combine the following strategies:  Engineering – adapting and adopting environmental and…, Resources and publications, Publisher Title UNICEF Technical Guidance for Child and Adolescent Road Safety UNICEF Guidance for Safe and Healthy Journeys to School During COVID-19 and Beyond WHO Global Plan for the Decade of Action for Road Safety   WHO Preventing drowning: an implementation guide Child Health Initiative & UNICEF Rights of Way report WHO Global report on…, Learn more

The world is now home to the largest cohort of adolescents in history – 1.2 billion people between the ages of 10 and 19. How they develop and grow has implications that reverberate across generations. When adolescents, including the most disadvantaged, are supported by caring families and adults, as well as policies and services attentive to…, UNICEF's response, UNICEF is committed to supporting adolescent girls and boys in developing and reaching their full potential. Around the world, UNICEF partners with adolescents to improve the policies, programmes and services that affect their health and well-being. We work with governments in health and other areas – like education; nutrition; gender; child…, Fighting communicable diseases, UNICEF is focused on strengthening the capacity of primary health care at community level to detect and treat communicable and childhood diseases that impact adolescent girls and boys. Those diseases include tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia, meningitis and diarrhoea. Additionally, UNICEF works to provide routine vaccinations including HPV…, Supporting HIV and AIDS prevention programmes, UNICEF is committed to supporting prevention programmes that are tailored to local needs, with a mix of services focused on adolescent girls, young women and their partners. We also work to increase access to HIV testing, in addition to supporting adolescents living with HIV to access the treatment they need. Learn more, Strengthen gender-responsive health services, UNICEF supports programmes that promote gender equality, reduce stigma and discrimination, and provide adolescents with the information they need to make decisions that affect their own health, including their sexual and reproductive health., Meet the menstrual health and hygiene needs of adolescent girls, Girls without support through puberty and during menstruation, particularly in low-resource and emergency contexts, often experience stigma and social exclusion while forgoing important educational, social and economic opportunities. UNICEF works to end stigma and discrimination during menstruation through evidence-based advocacy efforts, as well…, Promote mental well-being and address mental health conditions, Many mental health disorders have their onset in adolescence. UNICEF works to promote mental well-being during these pivotal years through global advocacy, awareness-raising, and evidence-building to support the implementation and scale-up of effective interventions. We support early prevention, screening and referral through strengthened health…, Prevent and respond to non-communicable diseases, UNICEF's work is commited to promoting healthy behaviours, the prevention of substance use, increased physical activity, and youth-led policy action. We also help reduce the risk of cervical cancer through Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. Learn more, Prevent and respond to violence, UNICEF works to protect adolescents from injuries and violence at home, in school and throughout communities. UNICEF supports programmes to reinforce positive parent-adolescent interactions and non-violent discipline. We’re also committed to strengthening the capacity of social welfare systems and investing in the child protection workforce., Resources, Publisher Title UNICEF Adolescent Health: The Missing Population in Universal Health Coverage UNICEF Adolescent Mental Health Knowledge Summary: Time for Action WHO Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents UNICEF UNICEF Programme Guide for the Second Decade UNICEF UNICEF Programme Guidance for Early-Life Prevention of Non-…, More from UNICEF

Over the past two decades, the world has made tremendous progress improving child and adolescent health and well-being. But challenges persist. Communicable diseases continue to endanger children and adolescents across the globe – and new health problems are on the rise, especially in areas affected by poverty.  Mental health conditions,…, Learn more, UNICEF’s response, UNICEF works around the world to help children survive and thrive throughout the first two decades of life. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals, our efforts build strong health systems to promote universal health coverage, while addressing emerging issues in child and adolescent health. , Adolescent health and well-being, UNICEF and partners support the development and implementation of national plans for adolescent health, improving adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health including maternal and newborn care, promoting and protecting mental health, and scaling up access to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines to eliminate cervical cancer. Learn more, Non-communicable diseases , UNICEF works to expand access to programmes for preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs), focusing on risk reduction throughout the maternal, child and adolescent life cycle. We integrate NCD prevention in existing maternal, newborn and child health programmes. We also support it through education and other social sectors. Learn more, Health and child development, In collaboration with partners, UNICEF co-led the development of the Nurturing Care Framework for early childhood development. We support key health components of nurturing care, particularly in a child’s early moments, and seek opportunities to advance nurturing care through routine health interactions between families and caregivers. UNICEF also…, Healthy environments, UNICEF addresses the environmental risks to children that emerge from climate change, lead exposure and environmental degradation as organizational and global advocacy priorities, by supporting national, local and community-based programmes. Learn more, Injuries, UNICEF supports countries in the prevention of child injuries and drowning – especially by improving data collection to inform policymaking. Learn more

Major causes of death among children vary by age. Children under 5 are especially vulnerable to infectious diseases like malaria , pneumonia , diarrhoea , HIV and tuberculosis . For older children, non-communicable diseases, injuries and conflict pose significant threats.  Despite being entirely preventable and treatable, common infectious…, Pneumonia, Pneumonia is the leading infectious cause of death among children under 5, killing approximately 700,000 children a year. In many parts of the world, a child dies from pneumonia every minute – even though the disease is entirely preventable and can be easily managed with antibiotics. Pneumonia is a disease of inequality – one concentrated within…, Diarrhoea, In recent years, significant progress has been made reducing child deaths from diarrhoea. But diarrhoea remains a leading killer of young children, particularly in humanitarian settings.  In 2019, diarrhoea killed approximately 480,000 young children across the globe, accounting for 9 per cent of all deaths among children under age 5.   These…, Malaria, Malaria is the world’s third most deadly disease for young children between the ages of one month and 5 years, following pneumonia and diarrhoea. In 2021, there were 247 million malaria cases globally that led to 619,000 deaths in total. Of these deaths, 77 per cent were children under 5 years of age. Nearly every minute, a child dies from malaria…, Tuberculosis, A young boy smiles after being treated for malnutrition and tuberculosis. Nyajime Guet, who was being treated for severe acute malnutrition and tuberculosis, smiles in Juba, South Sudan. Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease that the world knows how to prevent and treat. Yet, over 600 children under the age of 15 die from it every day – nearly a quarter…, Resources, Publisher Title WHO World Malaria Report 2021 UNICEF Ending child deaths from pneumonia and diarrhoea WHO Roadmap Towards Ending Tuberculosis in Children and Adolescents UNICEF Change the Game: An agenda for action on childhood tuberculosis, More from UNICEF