Children must pass through several stages in their lives to become adults. For most people, there are four or five such stages of growth where they learn certain things: infancy (birth to age 2), early childhood (3 to 8 years), Iater childhood (9 to 12 years) and adolescence (13 to 18 years). Persons 18 and over are considered adults in our society Of course, there are some who will try to act older than their years. But, for the most part, most individuals have to go through these stages irrespective of their economic or social status. World Health Organization (WHO) identifies adolescence as the period in human growth and development that occurs after childhood and before adulthood. This phase represents one of the critical transitions in one's life span and is characterized by fast paced growth and change which are second only to those at infancy. Biological processes drive many aspects of this growth and development with the onset of puberty marking the passage from childhood to adolescence. The biological determinants of adolescence are fairly universal; however, the duration and defining characteristics of this period may vary across time,ulures, and socio-economic situations. This period has seen many changes over the past century-puberty for example, Cutu searlier than before, people marry late, and their sexual attitudes and behaviours are different from their orandparents or even parents. Among the factors responsible for the change are education, urbanization and spread of Bnbal communication.The time of adolescence is a period of preparation for adulthood during which one experience global key developments. Besides physical and sexual maturation, these experiences include movement toward al and economic independence, development of identity, the acquisition of skills needed to carry out adult Soci shins and roles and the capacity for abstract reasoning. While adolescence is a time of tremendous growth Telatential, it is also a time of considerable risks during which social contexts exert powerful influences.Many adolÄ—scents face pressure to use cigarettes, or drugs and to initiate sexual relationships putting themselves at high risk for intentional and unintentional injuries, unintended pregnancies, and sexually transmitted infections (STIS), including the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Many also experience a wide range adjustment and mental health problems. Behaviour patterms that are established during this period such as the use avoidance of drugs and taking or abstaining from sexual risk can have long-lasting negative and positive effects future health and well-being. As a result, adults have unique opportunities to influence adolescents. 1W Adolescents are different both from young children and adults. Specifically, adolescents are not fully capable understanding complex concepts, or the relationship between behaviour and consequences, or the degree of control they have or can have over health decision-making, including that related to sexual behaviour. This inability may make them particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation and high-risk behaviours. Laws, customs, and practices may also affect adolescents differently than adults. For example, laws and policies often restrict adolescents' access to reproductive health information and serVices, especially when they are unmarried. In addition, even when services orist provider attitudes about adolescents often pose a significant barrier to the use of those services Adolescents depend on their families, their communities, schools, health services, and their workplaces to learn a kilis that can help them to cope with the pressures they face and make a successful transition from childhood to adulthood. Parents, members of the community, service providers, and social institutions have the responsibility to both promote adolescent development and adjustment intervene effectively problemsAdolescents nation's national renewal and growth. Adolescence is a period in life when transition from childhood to adulthood takes place and behaviours and lifestyles are shaped. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), adolescence is the period which shapes the future of girls' and boys' lives. There are 28 million adolescents in Bangladesh; 13.7 million of them are girls and 14.3 million boys. The situation of adolescent girls in Bangladesh is characterised by inequality and subordination within the family and society. This inequality leads to a widespread practice of child marriage, marginalisation or exclusion from health, education and economic opportunities, and a vulnerability to violence and sexual abuse. In Bangladesh, the legal age of marriage is 18 for girls and 21 for boys. However, 33 percent of adolescent girls are married before the age of 15 and 60 percent become mothers by the age of 19. Research finds that adolescents with higher level of education and from more affluent families tend to marry at a later age. Boys, however, becom..
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