Road accidents, suicide and maternal conditions
Leading causes of death in young people:
WHO-supported study of global mortality patterns shows 2.6 million
young people die each year.
The first study of global patterns of death among people aged between
10-24 years of age has found that road traffic accidents, complications
during pregnancy and child birth, suicide, violence, HIV/AIDS and
tuberculosis (TB) are the major causes of mortality. Most causes of
death of young people are preventable and treatable.
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Road traffic accidents can be prevented through speed management |
The study, which was supported by the World Health Organization (WHO)
and published in The Lancet medical journal, found that 2.6 million
young people are dying each year, with 97 percent of these deaths taking
place in low- and middle-income countries.
There are more young people in the world today than ever before, 1.8
billion, accounting for 30 percent of the world's population. Until now,
there has been very little information available on the causes of death
among young people globally and by region.
This study is intended to inform the development of policies and
programs to ensure that they improve the lives, and prevent the deaths,
of young people.
Daisy Mafubelu, WHO's Assistant Director-General for Family and
Community Health, said: "Young people are transitioning from childhood
to adulthood - at the threshold of becoming productive members of
society - yet they often fall through the cracks.
It is clear from these findings that considerable investment is
needed - not only from the health sector, but also from sectors
including education, welfare, transport, and justice - to improve access
to information and services, and help young people avoid risky
behaviours that can lead to death." WHO recommends the following
interventions to promote safe behaviours, improve health and prevent
deaths among young people:
Road traffic accidents can be prevented through speed management (for
example, creating low-speed zones in urban settings, setting speed
limits according to road type); strictly enforcing drink-driving laws
that limit blood alcohol concentration to 0.05 g/dl with lower limits
for young or novice drivers); increasing the wearing of good quality
helmets, and increasing the use of seat-belts.
Sexual and reproductive health can be improved by ensuring that young
people receive sexuality education, have access to condoms and other
contraceptives, safe abortion to the full extent of the law, antenatal
and obstetric care, HIV testing and counselling, and HIV/AIDS care and
treatment. |
