Worldwide, 1.5 billion people are between the ages of 10 and 24, and 1.3 billion of them live in developing countries. Risky behavior today can have far-reaching consequences that affect their immediate health as well as their future opportunities and those of their children. Adolescent pregnancy and childbirth, for example, are associated with a range of outcomes detrimental to a teen’s health, including complications of pregnancy, illegal or unsafe abortions, and death, especially in less developed nations.

When compared to women in their mid-twenties, women under age 15 are at 5 times greater risk of dying from complications related to pregnancy or childbirth; those women between 15 and 19 are at twice the risk. Young people are also the segment of the population most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and they remain highly vulnerable to its transmission and resulting impact. Globally, it is estimated that 5.4 million young people ages 15 to 24 are living with HIV, 3.2 million of whom live in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Gaining access to health education and reproductive health services is vital if today’s young people are to lead healthy productive lives and make informed choices. Yet many youth today find themselves cut off from the information outlets and youth-friendly service providers they so desperately need. Strategic investments in such areas as reproductive health, HIV/AIDS prevention, and basic health education are critical in addressing growing health crises in underserved communities worldwide.

Among those IYF-supported initiatives that address youth health are:

• The Empowering Africa's Young People Initiative utilizes in- and out-of-school Peer Education programs, Parent-to-Child communication, and community mobilization to prevent HIV among youth in Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

• Planning for Life aims to improve the health of young women and men ages 10-24 years old by integrating reproductive health and family planning into youth development programs.

Click here to access resources and tools about Youth Reproductive Health.

IYF is member of CORE Group, an association of over 40 international NGOs dedicated to improving the health and well being of children and women in developing countries.