Different words, definitions, age ranges and characteristics
are used to describe the transition from childhood to adulthood.
The World Health Organization uses the word "adolescents"
for ages 10 to 19 and the term "young people" to cover
ages 10 to 24. The U.S. Agency for International Development
uses the term "young adults" to refer to individuals
in transition from childhood to adulthood, without specifying
an age span. "Teenagers" generally refers to those
ages 13 to 19. The term "youth" has no formal definition
by age range and is used in many contexts.
This presentation includes information that may be pertinent
to youth within the age range of 10 to 24, depending on culture,
marriage, school status and other factors. Some information
focuses on a more narrow age range. The slides on sexuality
education, for example, apply to youth as young as 10, whereas
the details on contraceptive methods generally apply to older
youth. In general, this presentation uses such words as young
adults, young people, youth, adolescents and teenagers interchangeably
where exact distinctions are not critical.
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