Child & Adolescent Health

Why focus on youth?

• What are the top three causes of death currently in the U.S.?– Heart disease– Stroke– Cancer

– What do these have in common?

Is this different for youth?

• What are the top four causes of death among youth in the U.S.?– Motor vehicle accidents– Unintentional injuries– Homicide– Suicide

CDC: Six classifications

• Risk behavior:– Unhealthy dietary behaviors– Physical inactivity– Unhealthy sexual behaviors– Tobacco use– Alcohol and other drug use– Behaviors resulting in unintentional

injury/violence

America’s Youth

Why focus on children & adolescents?

• Unique population – especially this generation.

• The first to …– Understand terrorism as a domestic issue– Compete fully in a global economy– Experience instantaneous communication with the world– Grow up with the majority living a portion of childhood in a single

parent household– Live their entire lives in the shadow of AIDS– ?????

Youth defined according to WHO• Children:

– 0 10

– Young People:» 10

24

–Adolescence:» 10 19

–Youth:» 15 24

• Note: Adolescence = a period of time in the lifespan; Adolescents = the youth experiencing adolescence.

National Statistics

• “America’s Children: Key National Indicators of Well-Being 2011” Report:

» In 2010, 74.2 million children 0-17 y/o» Children/adolescents equal 24% of

population.

http://childstats.gov/

Racial and Ethnic Diversity

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=racial+diversity&view=detail&id=2E5E7BF1F730CD93887317E8D1E3B16AE2762284&first=0&FORM=IDFRIR

• In 2010, – 53.5% White, Non-Hispanic– 23.1% Hispanic– 14.0% African-American– 4.3% Asian– 5.2% Other

Family and Social Environment• In 2010,

– 66% of children lived with two married parents– 23% of children lived with single mother– 3% lived with single father– 4% lived with neither parent

www.familydiversity.org

Family/Social Environment continued

• Child care

• In 2010, – 20% of children had at least one foreign-born

parent

• In 2009,– 21% spoke a language other than English at

home

More family/social environment• Adolescent births

– In 2009, adolescent birth rate: 20.1/1,000 (15-17 y/o)

– The good news & bad news

• Child Maltreatment– In 2009,

• 10 / 1,000 children 0-17 y/o were maltreated (substantiated reports)

Economic Circumstances• In 2009,

– 21% of children (0-17 y/o) lived in poverty

– 72% of children had at least one parent who worked full time, year round

– 23% of children lived in food insecure households www.awarenessmonths.com

Health Care• In 2009,

– 90% of children (0-17 y/o) had health insurance coverage at some time during the year

– 84% of children (5-17 y/o) visited the dentist

http://www.hr3590.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/kid-health-care.jpg

Physical Environment & Safety• Outdoor air quality

– In 2009, 59% of children lived in counties with detectable air pollutants

• Drinking water– About 7% of children

continue to live without clean drinking water

• Environmental tobacco– About 17% of children

still live in homes with ETS.

• Housing– Inadequate housing– Overcrowding– Homeless

Behavior• Tobacco use continues to decline … but …

• Alcohol use continues to decline … but …

• Illicit Drug use

Behavior continued

Education• Reading

• Math

• In 2009,– 90% of 18-24 y/o completed high school or GED– 70% of those immediately enrolled in 2 or 4 year

college

Health• The infant mortality rate

– Continued to decline

• In 2007 – 2008,– 19% of 6-17 y/o were

obese– The bad news

• Physical limitation

• Diet quality

• Asthma

• Adolescent depression

Special Feature: Adoption

Adoption continued

Adoption …