The Adolescent people are in which age group as per WHO?

Appeared in: Tripura CHO - 2021

Explanation

The World Health Organization (WHO) officially defines 'adolescence' as the age range from 10 to 19 years.
This period is a unique stage of human development and an important time for laying the foundations of good health.
Adolescents experience rapid physical, cognitive, and psychosocial growth, which distinguishes this period from childhood and adulthood.

Option A: The age group of 10 to 16 years is too narrow. It only covers the early and middle stages of adolescence, excluding the late adolescent years (17-19).
Option C: The age group of 15 to 24 years is defined by the WHO and UN as 'youth'. While it overlaps with late adolescence, it is a distinct classification.
Option D: The age group of 10 to 24 years is defined by the WHO and UN as 'young people'. This is a broader category that encompasses both the adolescent (10-19) and youth (15-24) periods.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain WHO definition of adolescent age group as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding the correct age definition for adolescents is crucial for nurses to provide age-appropriate care, health education (e.g., on reproductive health, nutrition, mental health), and counseling.
In the Indian context, this age group is critical for implementing national health programs like the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), which targets the 10-19 years age group.
What if? - If a nurse mistakenly considers a 17-year-old as an adult for consent purposes, it could lead to legal and ethical violations, as different consent laws apply to minors versus adults. Knowing the 10-19 range helps navigate these issues correctly.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key terms in the question: 'Adolescent' and 'WHO'. This indicates the question is asking for a specific, official definition.
This is a factual recall question. Your task is to remember the precise age range defined by the World Health Organization.
Evaluate each option against this recalled fact.
Option A (10-16) is too short. Option C (15-24) defines 'youth'. Option D (10-24) defines 'young people'.
Select the option that exactly matches the WHO definition of 'adolescence', which is 10-19 years.

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 Tripura CHO - 2021

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