Lack of data on adolescent health is a major hurdle hampering efficient policy-making to improve the deteriorating health of adolescents in the contemporary world. Adolescent health experts have highlighted the need for accurate data if the challenges of tomorrow’s adults are to be addressed.
Speaking at the 11th World Congress on Adolescent Health, Sunil Mehra, MAMTA Health Institute for Mother and Child, said, “We have all the intention in the world to address the problems that today’s adolescents face, as they will become adults and run the world. But in order to make policies that benefit the adolescents, we need the required data.”
Out of the 1.2 billion world adolescent population, over 21% live in India. According to the 2011 census, between 1960-2011, India’s adolescent population has increased from 85 million to 253 million. According to statistics of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), the Indian adolescent population is expected to reach 297 million by 2050.
According to data available with the National Family Health Survey 2015-16, between the age of 13-17 years, the prevalence of mental disorders is around 8%, while tobacco use among minors is 7.3%, among the age group of 15-17. While 22% of adolescent girls between the age of 15-19 years experienced physical or sexual violence, around 22,000 deaths among adolescents is caused by road accidents in India. Current use of contraception among married adolescent (15-19 years) women is only 13%. In terms of nutrition, 56% girls and 30% boys are anaemic in India, while among the adolescent population in the age group 8-18 years, 5.3% is obese.
Listing the reasons for concern about adolescent health, Manoj Jhalani of the MoHFW, giving a presentation at the Health Congress, said, “Nearly 35% of the global burden of disease has roots in adolescence. Globally, an estimated 3,000 adolescents die every day due to preventable diseases. The burden of shifting pattern of diseases among adolescents indicates non-communicable diseases as a leading contributor to DALYs (Disability-Adjusted Life Years), which has seen an approximate 50% rise from 1990.” DALYs is a measure of overall disease burden, expressed as the number of years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death.
According to MoHFW, the leading issues among Indian adolescents are tobacco and alcohol consumption, junk food, and physical inactivity. Injuries, including self-harm and transport injuries, are the newer challenges. On account of mental and substance abuse, DALYs are on the rise and contributes to 11% of total DALYs. Nutritional deficiencies are a leading cause of morbidity burden among young adolescents.
Jhalani added, “Convergence between the education department, women and child development ministry, youth affairs etc. is easier said than done. However, without mutual co-operation of all these stakeholders, we will not be able to achieve our desirable goals.”
Emphasising on the role of states, Sunil Mehra said, “States need to become proactive. The Centre cannot do the ground work alone. India needs to address the issue of adolescent health proactively in order to ensure a healthy future of the nation.”