Adolescence is defined as the period from puberty to adulthood. During this stage, adolescents experience significant physical, psychological, and social changes. Physically, they undergo puberty and reach sexual maturity. Cognitively, their abstract thinking abilities advance. Emotionally, they develop a sense of identity and independence. Socially, peer relationships gain importance. Adolescents are vulnerable to health issues like malnutrition, STIs, substance abuse, and mental health problems. Promoting their well-being requires supporting healthy relationships, preventing violence and abuse, and ensuring access to education and healthcare.

1. BY BABY LIXINA
1ST YEAR MSc.Nursing student
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF
ADOLESCENT

2. DEFINITION OF GROWTH &
DEVELOPMENT
GROWTH:
It is a process of physical maturation resulting
in size of the body and various organs.it
occurs by multiplication of the cells and
increase in intracellular substance.it can be
measured in
inches/centimeters/pounds/kilograms.

3. DEVELOPMENT:
It is the process of functional and
physiological maturation of the individual.it is
progressive increase in skill and capacity to
function.it is related to myelination and
maturation of the nervous system.it includes
psychological, emotional and social changes.

4. DEFINITION OF ADOLESCENCE:
• It is defined as the period from the onset of
puberty to the termination of physical growth
and attainment of the final adult height and
characteristics.
• According to UNICEF, the sequence of events
by which the individual is transformed into a young
adult by a series of biological changes

5. CHANGES DURING ADOLESCENCE:
 Develop an increasing capacity for abstract and critical
thought, along with heightened sense of self awareness
and emotional independence.
 Adopt attitudes, values and behaviors that will carry with
them into childhood.
 Experience physical growth which is carried by sexual
maturation ,leading to intimate relationships. They also
form social relationship beyond the family to include
peers and older adults.
 Acquire new capacities and skills.
 Experience growing independence, making own decisions.

6. UNIVERSAL FEATURES OF ADOLESCENT
DEVELOPMENT:
UNIVERSAL FEATURES OF ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT :
1.
2.
3.
4.
Onset of puberty
Biological
changes
Cognitive
changes
Emotional
changesSelf image,intimacy,relation
with adults and peers.
Emergence of more advanced
cognitive abilities
Transition into new roles in
society.
Social
changes

7. STAGES OF ADOLESCENCE
There are three main stages that can be discerned,
 Early adolescence (9-13 years).this is characterized by a
spurt of growth and the development of secondary sexual
characteristics.
 Mid adolescence (14-15 years).this stage is distinguished
by the development of a separate identity from parents ,of
new relationships with peer groups and the opposite sex,
and of experimentation.
 Late adolescence (16-19 years).at this stage, adolescent
have fully developed physical characteristics(similar to
adults),and have formed a distinct identity and have well-
formed opinions and ideas.

8. • Change or thickening in the voice.
• Growth of hair on the chin and face,
followed by hair on the chest and
increase of hair on the body including
the pubic region..
•
• Development of genitals.
• Experience wet dreams at night when
they may involuntary ejaculate.
• Curves develop, the breast get painful,
and begin to grow.
• Hair sprout in pubic area and under
arms.
• Menstrual cycle begins.
• Ovaries begin to ovulate at around 11-
14 years or earlier once every 28 days
• Fertilization occurs when a female egg
unites with male sperm ,which leads to
pregnancy. If fertilization does not take
place ,menstruation occurs
MORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES IN ADOLESCENTS:
CHANGES IN GIRLS CHANGES IN BOYS

9. PSYCHOLOGICAL CHANGES
• The development of a sense of identity distinct from
parents and developing own self worth, the exploration of
new relationship with the peer groups, with opposite sex,
families and the community is a hallmark of adolescence.
•
• Psychological symptoms such as headache, body ache,
insomnia, lack of concentration, anxiety, delayed
menstrual periods, vaginal discharge, anxiety about semen
loss and relationship
• Hormonal changes such as arousal, irritability and
aggressiveness.

10. FACTORS AFFECTING ADOLENSCENT HEALTH
AND DEVELOPMENT
• SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT AND ADOLSCENTS
• Social attitudes and norms:
• Social norms that value adolscents, the heakth and
development promote healthy development. Social norms
may also serves as negative influences, eg: early marriage
among adolscent girls.
• Relationship with the family, friends and other adults:
• Numerous health behavior and attitudes in adolescence
and other adulthood are begun in the family setting during
childhood. Lifestyle related habits in hygiene, nutrition,
physical activities and communication skills, are essential
part of family education.

11. Mass media and entertainment:
It promotes adolescent health development by
Providing accurate information on health and
development issues.
Communicating and mobilizing community support
for promoting adolescent health and development
Addressing aspects of social environment suh as
social norm and policies that have a negative
impact on adolescent health and development.

12. GENERAL HEALTH PROBLEM OF ADOLSCENT:
1.PROBLEMS THAT ORIGINATE IN CHILDHOOD AND IMPACT
HEALTH IN ADOLESCENT.
• Fetal malnutrition causes health problems throughout the reproductive
years and beyond, such as stunted growth ,anemia during pregnancy,
iodine deficiency, vit A blindness
• Young people who survive repeated cycles of diarrheal and
respiratory diseases fail to attain full adult growth
• Infections such as poliomyelitis cause permanent disability.
• Differential access to food and care in infancy, child marriage, sexual
abuse by adults or child prostitution can seriously affect the physical,
mental and social wellbeing of adolescent

13. PROBLEMS ORIGINATING IN ADOLESCENCE
WITH LIFELONG HEALTH CONSEQUENCES:
• The use tobacco, alcohol, drug are harmful substance causes life
threating situations among adolescent.
• Low status of women and their relatives lack of physical, social and
economic power makes them more vulnerable among others to:
• Physical violence
• Economically coerced sex
• Sexual harassment
• Abuse at workplace
• Forced prostitution

14. ADOLESCENT NUTRITION:
Physical growth, mental development ,performance and productivity. The rapid
adolescence growth spurt places extra demand on nutritional requirements.
• Inadequate nutrition in adolescence can potentially retard growth, sexual
maturation and chronic diseases.
• Girls are especially are at high risk of malnutrition because of gender
discrimination.
UNDER NUTRITION
• Inadequate food supply, especially in poor households, is a major
contributing factor to under nutrition. For adolescent girls, gender based
discrimination of, and access to, food within the family can be a strong factor
in under nutrition

15. .• Micronutrient deficiency:
• Deficiencies of vitamin A, iodine and iron are common
among adolescents. The adverse effects of these
deficiencies include delayed growth spurt, stunted height,
delayed/retarded intellectual development, anemia, and
increased risk in childbirth.
•
• Iron deficiency anemia(IDA) is generally recognized as
the main nutritional problem in adolescents; its prevalence
ranging from more than 50%in developing countries to 6%
in industrialized countries.

16. NUTRITION
• Overweight and obesity:
Lifestyle changes related to high fat diet and low levels of physical activity have
resulted in rising prevalence of overweight and obese adolescents especially in urban
areas. It includes risk of having diseases such as diabetes, hyper tension, stroke,
cardiovascular disease, cancer and gallbladder diseases.
• Eating Disorders
Most adolescents are conscious about the changes in their bodies. They want to
conform to the “ideal” body image. As such, these try unhealthy diets and engage in
unhealthy eating habits that can lead to eating disorders. Anorexia nervosa has been
observed among young women from various social, economic and ethnic
backgrounds. The factors associated with eating disorders are complex however; the
association between eating disorders and low self-esteem is common.
•

17. NUTRITION
• Lifestyle and Eating Patterns:
Adolescents are greatly influenced in their eating habits by peers,
mass media, social and cultural norms and lack of nutritional knowledge.
They are likely to eat snacks meal of poor nutrient content, eat fast or
junk foods. They less likely eat vegetables and fruits.
• Impact of excessive weight control:
Adolescents girls go to extreme measured to remain thin. Young women
want to reduce their weight in order to look more beautiful attractive and
healthy. They do dieting supported by their friends and commercial
advertising. They suffer from iron deficiency anemia, osteoporosis,
eating disorders and amenorrhea

18. MENTAL HEALTH IN ADOLESCENTS
• Mental disorders:
Mental health affect all of us at one point on another. The
problem may be short lived or may be severe, interfering
with an individuals cognitive, emotional or social abilities.
These are called mental disorders. Common mental disorders
in adolescents are dipression, anxiety, substance
abuse(marijuana).
• Emotional problems:
These includes sadness, anxiety, anger and stress. Stress is
because of physical psychological, social and sexual changes
during adolescents.

19. .
.
• Behavioral problems
These include aggressive or disruptive behavior towards parents, teachers
siblings, friends etc. Risky behavior such as unsafe sex, hazardous drunk
driving, smoking, self harm, physical inactivity, educational failure and
school drop out are linked with mental health problems.
• Identity problems:
In todays world where there are so much diversity, mobility and
opportunities it is difficult for adolescents to decide their identities.
• Others:
Early child bearing, unwanted pregnancies, abortion sexually transmitted
infection social stigma and loss of education may impose stress on
adolescents

20. PROMOTING ADOLESCENTS HEALTH
• 1.PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH:
• Promotes positive, caring and supportive relationship between adolescents and their
families, peers teachers etc.
• Ensure that adolescent’s lives are free from neglect, trauma, stress, violence and abuse.
• Ensure good living conditions
• Ensure their access to educational and vocational training.
2.PROMOTING SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH:
• Working with young people to determine where and how they spend time, obtain health
information and seek health services
• Expansion of school programs to call-in media shows, hotlines, discussion group, youth
camps, reproductive health club, peer education, drama competition and mailing, can be
used to make information meaningful and attractive
• Sexual education helps to ensure sexual active youth to protect themselves from
pregnancies and disease.

21. PROMOTING ADOLESCENT HEALTH:
• 3.EDUCATION :
Education provides adolescents with the opportunity to maximize their
potential skills for social and economic participation in future. It
promotes positive behavior choices, healthy behavior and health
outcomes
• 4.SCHOOL BASED HEALTH PROMOTION:
School can deliver health programs that includes health
education, health prevention activities including physical and mental
health, nutritional and food safety, physical education etc. Educational
programs in schools helps to monitor students how they behave with one
another.

22. ADOLESCENT FRIENDLY HEALTH SERVICES:
• Urgent action is required to improve ability of health
worker to respond to their adolescents patients more
effectively to make health services more accessible and
acceptable to them. These includes
• To set up adolescents or youth friendly health centers
• To make existing ones more youth friendly than current
one.
• To deliver services and supplies to young people outside
health center setting.

23. THANK YOU