Adolescence is one of the most rapid and formative phases of human development, it includes distinctive physical, cognitive, social, emotional and sexual development.

Adolescent health and development is an integral part of the "Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016–2030)" and addressing the health of this group is central to the success of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Adolescents make up around a fifth of the population of the Region. The adolescent mortality rate in WHO's Eastern Mediterranean Region is the second highest after WHO's African Region. 

According to WHO 2020 global health estimates the top 5 causes of mortality among adolescent males aged 10–14 years in the Region are: diarrhoeal diseases, road injuries, lower respiratory infections, congenital anomalies and drowning, and the top causes of mortality among 15–19 years are: road injury, interpersonal violence, diarrhoeal diseases and tuberculosis.

The top 5 causes of deaths among adolescent females aged 10–14 years are nearly the same as for males yet in older age groups (15–19 years) maternal causes are the leading cause of death followed by tuberculosis, diarrhoeal diseases, road injury and self-harm.

Maternal mortality is a critical cause of female adolescent deaths in the Region. Maternal mortality among 15–19-year-old girls is high in low-to-middle income countries at 8.5 deaths per 100 000 live births in 2019. Adolescents have high rates of unplanned pregnancy, which can lead to a range of adverse physical, social and economic outcomes. Globally, an estimated 15% of young women give birth before age 18. Complications in pregnancy and childbirth were a leading cause of death among adolescent girls in developing countries in 2015, causing 10.1 deaths per 100 000.

The top 5 leading causes of adolescent disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost are collective violence and legal intervention, iron-deficiency anaemia, road injury, depressive disorders and childhood behavioural disorder.

Related link

Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents (AA-HA!): guidance to support country implementation