Why Prioritize Ethiopian10-14 Year Olds?Why Prioritize Ethiopian10-14 Year Olds?
Jennifer CatinoJennifer Catino
EngenderHealthEngenderHealth
October 9, 2007October 9, 2007
OverviewOverview
Stages of adolescenceStages of adolescence
Significance of pubertytransition: Increasedexposure to risks andvulnerabilitiesSignificance of pubertytransition: Increasedexposure to risks andvulnerabilities
Largely neglected agegroupLargely neglected agegroup
Importance of earlierinvestmentImportance of earlierinvestment
Opportunities of earlierinvestmentOpportunities of earlierinvestment
Age
14
19
21
20
22
23
24
15
17
16
18
11
12
13
10
9
Girls
Boys
Preadolescence
EarlyAdolescence
MiddleAdolescence
LateAdolescence
Youth
Young Adulthood
Youth
Young Adulthood
Preadolescence
EarlyAdolescence
MiddleAdolescence
LateAdol
Stages of adolescence
Chong, Erica, Hallman, Kelly, and Martha Brady. Investing When it Counts: Generating the evidence base for polices and programmes for very young adolescents. New York: UNFPA andPopulation Council, 2006.
DevelopmentalDevelopmental
domainsdomains
PreadolescencePreadolescence
9-12 years (girls)9-12 years (girls)
10-13 years (boys)10-13 years (boys)
Early AdolescenceEarly Adolescence
12-14 years (girls)12-14 years (girls)
13-15 years (boys)13-15 years (boys)
BodyBody
Growth spurtGrowth spurt
Secondary sex characteristicsSecondary sex characteristics
Sensation seekingSensation seeking
Menstruation in girlsMenstruation in girls
Ejaculation in boysEjaculation in boys
BrainBrain
More logical thinkingMore logical thinking
Craving for new informationCraving for new information
Abstract thinkingAbstract thinking
SexualSexual
Exploration of sex rolesExploration of sex roles
Increased sexual arousal and experimentationIncreased sexual arousal and experimentation
Sexual preferences exploredSexual preferences explored
Gender norms consolidatedGender norms consolidated
EmotionalEmotional
Increased self-consciousnessIncreased self-consciousness
Need for greater privacy, autonomyNeed for greater privacy, autonomy
High level self-consciousnessHigh level self-consciousness
Increased stressIncreased stress
Separation from parents – dependency on friendsSeparation from parents – dependency on friends
SocialSocial
Academic, social demands increaseAcademic, social demands increase
Gradual separation from parentsGradual separation from parents
Increased peer pressureIncreased peer pressure
More time spent alone and in peer groupsMore time spent alone and in peer groups
Interest in opposite sex “friends”Interest in opposite sex “friends”
New social privileges expectedNew social privileges expected
Susceptibility to peer pressure at peakSusceptibility to peer pressure at peak
Developmental stages of young adolescents
Chong, Erica, Hallman, Kelly, and Martha Brady. Investing When it Counts: Generating the evidence base for polices and programmes for very young adolescents. New York: UNFPA andPopulation Council, 2006.
Social significance ofpuberty transitionSocial significance ofpuberty transition
10-14 year olds often experience rapidtransitions to new social roles10-14 year olds often experience rapidtransitions to new social roles
- Caregiver - Bread winner- Caregiver - Bread winner
- Spouse - Parent - Spouse - Parent
Increased exposure to risks andvulnerabilitiesIncreased exposure to risks andvulnerabilities
Premature school-leavingPremature school-leaving
Increased need for contribution to familyeconomyIncreased need for contribution to familyeconomy
–Unpaid domestic labor–Unpaid domestic labor
–Paid labor–Paid labor
–Migration to seek economic opportunity–Migration to seek economic opportunity
Social isolationSocial isolation
FGMFGM
Early marriageEarly marriage
Emergent issues for girlsby age 12:Emergent issues for girlsby age 12:
Sexual maturationSexual maturation
Consolidation of gendernormsConsolidation of gendernorms
Disproportionate care anddomestic work burdenDisproportionate care anddomestic work burden
Withdrawal from and/orlack of safety in publicspaceWithdrawal from and/orlack of safety in publicspace
School leaving and schoolsafetySchool leaving and schoolsafety
Loss of peersLoss of peers
Migration for workMigration for work
Pressure for marriagePressure for marriage
SRH risks faced during earlyadolescenceSRH risks faced during earlyadolescence
Early sexual debutEarly sexual debut
Sexual coercion/violenceSexual coercion/violence
Early, unwanted pregnancyEarly, unwanted pregnancy
Unsafe abortionUnsafe abortion
Maternal mortalityMaternal mortality
Maternal morbidityMaternal morbidity
–Obsetric fistula–Obsetric fistula
HIV/STIsHIV/STIs
Largely neglected age groupLargely neglected age group
Despite significant vulnerabilities andneeds, 10-14 year olds are NOT often:Despite significant vulnerabilities andneeds, 10-14 year olds are NOT often:
–Included in research–Included in research
–Included in policies–Included in policies
–Targeted by existing youth programs andservices–Targeted by existing youth programs andservices
Importance of early investmentImportance of early investment
Most youth programs start too lateMost youth programs start too late
If we really want to impact SRH, we needto prevent unwanted outcomes beforethey occurIf we really want to impact SRH, we needto prevent unwanted outcomes beforethey occur
Prevention of early and high fertility willalso stem population growth, which willcontribute not only to personal wellbeing,but also to national social and economicdevelopmentPrevention of early and high fertility willalso stem population growth, which willcontribute not only to personal wellbeing,but also to national social and economicdevelopment
Opportunities for early investmentOpportunities for early investment
May be easier toreach 10-14 year oldsMay be easier toreach 10-14 year olds
10-14 year olds maybe more open,flexible and creative10-14 year olds maybe more open,flexible and creative
May be easier topromote thedevelopment ofpositive behaviorsrather than changenegative onesMay be easier topromote thedevelopment ofpositive behaviorsrather than changenegative ones
What do 10-14 year olds need?What do 10-14 year olds need?
Participation in finding solutionsParticipation in finding solutions
Continued educationContinued education
Social and peer support and protectionSocial and peer support and protection
Safe places to meet, learn and recreateSafe places to meet, learn and recreate
Personal assets/life skillsPersonal assets/life skills
Positive health habits/information/servicesPositive health habits/information/services
Opportunities for personal andprofessional development close to homeOpportunities for personal andprofessional development close to home
ConclusionsConclusions
Adolescence consists of a series of stagesAdolescence consists of a series of stages
10-14 year olds experience rapid physical,emotional, social and cognitive changes10-14 year olds experience rapid physical,emotional, social and cognitive changes
Transitions to new social roles oftenconfer specific risks and vulnerabilitiesTransitions to new social roles oftenconfer specific risks and vulnerabilities
Addressing these needs requires context-specific policies and programsAddressing these needs requires context-specific policies and programs
Timing is everything!Timing is everything!
Early intervention = Effective preventionEarly intervention = Effective prevention
Thank you!Thank you!