Global adolescent health: is there a role for general practice?

摘要

Young people are a nation’s greatest asset for growth, prosperity, innovation, and current and future workforce and social support: it makes sense to invest in their health. The 21st century heralds the largest global population of young people ever previously known with a total of 1.8 billion individuals aged 10–24 years, 90% of whom live in low-income countries.1 Young people represent more than one-third of the population in low-income countries, and one-sixth to one-fifth of the population in high-income countries such as the UK. Yet, until recently the health needs of young people have been poorly understood and marginalised. The first WHO/UNFPA/UNICEF report on programming for adolescent health and development was issued less than 20 years ago.1