According to WHO, what is the age of "adolescence"?

Appeared in: MP CHO -2019 (Shift-1)

Explanation

The World Health Organization (WHO) officially defines adolescence as the age range from 10 to 19 years.
This period represents the transition from childhood to adulthood and is characterized by rapid growth and development.
The WHO also defines 'youth' as 15-24 years and 'young people' as the broader range of 10-24 years, which encompasses both adolescence and youth.

Option A: This age range (< 10 years) is classified as childhood, which precedes adolescence.
Option B: This range (11-15 years) only covers the early to middle stages of adolescence and does not include the full span defined by the WHO.
Option D: This age range (20-29 years) is classified as young adulthood. While it is partially covered by the WHO's definition of 'youth' (15-24 years), it is distinct from adolescence.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain WHO definition of adolescence as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses use these standard definitions to tailor health services, including counseling, sexual and reproductive health education, and mental health support for specific age groups.
This classification is crucial for planning and implementing public health programs, such as nutritional supplementation (e.g., Iron-Folic Acid), de-addiction campaigns, and life-skills education in schools and communities.
What if? If a patient is 23 years old, they are classified as 'youth' and a 'young person,' not an adolescent. Nursing care would shift focus to issues of young adulthood, such as family planning, career-related stress, and screening for non-communicable diseases, rather than pubertal development.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question that tests your knowledge of a specific definition from a major health organization.
Identify the key terms in the question: 'WHO' and 'adolescence'.
Recall the specific age range that the World Health Organization associates with the term 'adolescence'.
Scan the options to find the one that exactly matches the official definition.
Select the option '10-19 years' as it is the standard WHO definition.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart A (pp 1-232 of 464) p. 96-98

Practise the full MP CHO -2019 (Shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.