Publications on Adolescents

This publication provides evidence from nationally representative school health surveys, implemented as part of the Global School-based Student Health Survey Initiative, on prevalence of self-reported suicidal behaviours and other warning signs of mental health problems.

The promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of young women is central to UNDP’s mandate and intrinsic to its development approach. This effort includes advocating for women’s and girls’ equal rights, combating discriminatory practices and challenging the roles and stereotypes that affect inequalities and exclusion.

Nepal has one of the highest rates of child marriage in Asia – for both girls and boys. Although the legal age of unions for both sexes is 20, more than a third of young women aged 20-24 report that they were married by the age of 18, and just over one in ten by 15. 

Bangladesh has the highest rate of child marriage in Asia – and the fourth highest rate of child marriage in the world. Marriage is illegal for girls under the age of 18 and for boys under 21, with exemptions that allow for marriage with special permission. However, almost three out of five young women were married as children, with more than one in five married by the age of 15 in 2014.

India has the largest number of child brides in the world — one third of the global total. Yet recent data indicates that in the last decade there has been a significant decline in the prevalence of child marriage among women now in a particular age range. 

In view of recent data on the use of delamanid in children diagnosed with MDR-TB, WHO convened an independent, multidisciplinary, international expert panel to assess new data and develop an addendum to the 2014 interim guidance on delamanid, with specific recommendations to paediatric MDR-TB patients.

At least 1 million children fall ill with tuberculosis (TB) each year. Children represent about 11% of all TB cases. In 2015, 210,000 children died of TB, including 40,000 TB deaths among children who were HIV positive. Researchers estimate that 67 million children are infected with TB (latent TB) and are therefore at risk of developing disease in the future.

This brief highlights the new understanding, gained through Link Up, around engaging and providing services for adolescents living with HIV.

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to programme designers, implementers, policy and decision makers on how to meaningfully engage adolescents in the AIDS response and broader health programming, and to demonstrate why adolescents and youth are critical in efforts to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030.

The study emphasizes that a holistic approach to advancing gender equality and sexual and reproductive health must include both adolescent girls and boys. It highlights the need to engage adolescent boys and young men as allies to achieve gender equality and as supporters of women's empowerment.