Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Key facts • More than 1 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired every day worldwide • Each year, there are an estimated 376 million new infections with 1 of 4 STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomoniasis. • More than 500 million people are estimated to have genital infection with herpes...

Female Genital Mutilation (FGM): Who is at risk?  FGM is mostly carried out on young girls sometime between infancy and adolescence, and occasionally on adult women.  More than 3 million girls are estimated to be at risk for FGM annually.  More than 200 million girls and women alive today have been subjected...

Are there any health benefits associated with Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)? According to the WHO, FGM has no health benefits, only harm. FGM harms girls and women in many ways. It involves removing and damaging healthy and normal female genital tissue, and interferes with the natural functions of girls’ and women’s bodies. Generally speaking, risks...

About Female genital mutilation • Female genital mutilation (FGM) comprises all procedures that involve partial or total removal of the external female genitalia. • It is also injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons. • The practice is mostly carried out by traditional circumcisers, who often play other central roles in communities, such...

Effects of alcohol and drugs on adolescents Harmful drinking among adolescents is a major concern in many countries. Drug use among 15–19 year olds is also an important global concern because of the following: a) It reduces self-control and increases risky behaviours, such as unsafe sex or dangerous driving. b) It is an underlying cause...

Facts and Figures on Adolescents :Early pregnancy and childbirth The leading cause of death for 15-19 year-old girls globally is complications from pregnancy and childbirth. Some 11% of all births worldwide are to girls aged 15–19 years The vast majority of these births are in low- and middle-income countries. The UN Population Division puts the...

Facts and Figures on Adolescents Death/illnesses among adolescents More than 1.1 million adolescents aged 10-19 years died in 2016, over 3000 every day, mostly from preventable or treatable causes. Road traffic injuries were the leading cause of death among adolescents in 2016. Other major causes of adolescent deaths include suicide, interpersonal violence, HIV/AIDS and diarrhoeal...

Keeping an eye on global trends and priorities for children’s health is important to ensure that appropriate interventions are put in place  Emerging priorities for children’s health Congenital anomalies, injuries, and non-communicable diseases (chronic respiratory diseases, acquired heart diseases, childhood cancers, diabetes, and obesity) are the emerging priorities in the global child health agenda. Congenital...

Simple interventions can be put in place to cut down on child mortality: Leading causes of death in children under-5 years are the following: Preterm birth complications Pneumoniae Birth asphyxia Congenital anomalies Diarrhoea Malaria More than half of these early child deaths are preventable or can be treated with simple, affordable interventions including the following:...

The following are some strategies that families and care givers can adopt to take very good care of newborns for better outcomes: Families should be advised to: Seek prompt medical care if necessary (danger signs include feeding problems, or if the newborn has reduced activity, difficult breathing, a fever, fits or convulsions, or feels cold);...