Perspectives
Improving Access to Adolescent Primary Healthcare Services
Abstract
According to the US Census Bureau, adolescents make up approximately 13% of the US population, with approximately 42 million people ages 10 to 19 living in the United States in 2019.1 Adolescents ages 10 to 19 years are at a critical stage of life; at this stage, they begin to experience physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, and sexual changes that affect the way they think or act, having a direct or indirect effect on their overall health status.2 Although adolescents are generally healthy, they are prone to risky behavior and health conditions such as behavioral health disorders, substance abuse, eating disorders, and sexual behavior, leading to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unintended pregnancies, which predispose them to significant morbidity and mortality.3This content is limited to qualifying members.
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References
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