by
Nakiah Thomas-Edwards
THE WORLD HEALTH
ORGANISATION PRESENTS
SOME KEY FACTS ABOUT
ADOLESCENTS THAT
SPARK COMPARISON WITH
BARBADOS STATISTICS.
According to the WHO over 1.5 million adolescents and young adults aged 10–24 years died in 2019, nearly 5000 every day. The report also stated that young adolescents aged 10–14 years have the lowest risk of death of all age groups. It noted too that injuries (including road traffic injuries and drowning), violence, self-harm and maternal conditions are the leading causes of death among adolescents and young adults. There were approximately 557,000 youth and adolescents in the Barbados population in 2017. Our Health report of 2019 advises in that year, in the age group five to 14, there were eight deaths in this age group. Two of those were due to land transport accidents, one to leukemia, one to appendicitis, three to malignant neoplasm of unspecified sites and one to events of undetermined intent.
This report also stated that there were 31 deaths in the age group 15-24 in 2017, due to leukemia (1), malignant neoplasm of other genitourinary organs (1), other malignant neoplasms (2), land transport accidents (6), congenital malformations (1), falls (1), meningitis (2), asthma (1), respiratory disease (1), appendicitis (1), and events of undetermined intent (14).
The WHO also states that globally, there are 43 births per 1000 to girls aged 15–19 years per year. In 2017 in Barbados, the female population between the ages 15-19 numbered 9,258 (3.7% of the population). In that year there were 149 terminations of pregnancies between the ages 15 and 24, and 869 deliveries.
The WHO also states half of all mental health disorders in adulthood start by age 14, but most cases are undetected and untreated. It notes too, that early onset of substance use is associated with higher risks of developing dependence and other problems during adult life, and people of younger ages are disproportionately affected by substance use compared with people of older ages.
The United Nations International Drug Control Programme Caribbean Regional Office conducted a pilot focus group research in Barbados (2002) in order to assess directly from the young people their perceptions on the drug abuse situation, referring mostly to alcohol and marijuana. According to most of the youth, young people start using drugs as of the age of ten and, in some cases, as early as five. The research suggested this occurred when a family member consumed drugs. Early drug use also appears to depend on the involvement of young people with the ‘block’. Young persons acquainted with or related to someone from the ‘block’ are more likely to start using drugs at a younger age.
The 2017 Adolescent and Youth Health country profile of Barbados also indicated that an overwhelming 88.7% of students surveyed drank alcohol at least once and their first drink was before aged 14. In 2013 some 14.5 per cent smoke tobacco, and 85.9 per cent have smoked at least once and first tried cigarettes before age 14. Five years ago, the prevalent use of marijuana at secondary level was 20.9 per cent.
The Barbados Health report of 2019 Ministry of Health and Wellness (MHW), in collaboration with the PAHO, developed the draft Barbados Adolescent Health Strategy 2019 – 2029 using a participatory process involving stakeholders from several sectors and agencies in Barbados. The MHW built on the momentum created by the 2030 agenda and the recognition that the Sustainable Development Goals cannot be achieved without investment in adolescent health. The MHW/PAHO strategy was developed with direction from the WHO’s Global Adolescent Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA- HA!). AA-HA! Its reported to respond demonstrably more effectively to the health and wellness needs of adolescents (10 – 19 years) living in Barbados, by developing and strengthening the health sector’s integrated response, and targeting those adolescents who are most at risk.
DRUG USE ALSO APPEARS TO DEPEND ON THE
INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WITH THE ‘BLOCK’.
