Adolescent health in South America

Veronica Gaete

doi:10.1515/ijamh-2016-5013

Article

Adolescent health in South America

Veronica Gaete

Published/Copyright: June 26, 2015

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From the journal International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health Volume 28 Issue 3

Abstract

Since the 1950s, a significant amount of work has been done on behalf of the comprehensive health of young people in South America. This article focuses on the regional process of training health professionals to work with this age group. There are countries in which the growth of adolescent health training has been significant, others that have made progress but still have a narrower offer of teaching activities, and a few where only very basic and limited training is available. Latin American professional associations, scientific societies, and international organizations have also contributed to the education of the adolescent health work force. Although the training in the region has advanced in some countries to the point that there is specialization in adolescent medicine, much remains to be done. Certain regional conditions have contributed to the education of providers in adolescent care. The most important has been the existence of professionals who have been highly motivated to improve the health of young people. They have worked very hard and with great commitment to achieve this goal. There have also been important obstacles to educating professionals in adolescent care. Aside from the usual lack of funding, barriers have existed in the health care system and its providers, as well as the training entities and because of certain South American conditions. Finally, this article describes the regional adolescent medicine programs and the status of recognition of this specialty, and addresses the opportunities and challenges for adolescent health training.

Keywords: adolescent care; adolescent health; education; healthcare professionals; healthcare providers; training

Corresponding author: Veronica Gaete, MD, Center for Adolescent Health SERJOVEN, East Medical Sciences Division, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Pediatric Surgery, University of Chile, Raul Labbe 13.649, Lo Barnechea, Santiago 7690508, Chile, E-mail: mgaete@med.uchile.cl

Acknowledgments

Special thanks to the following leaders in the field for their collaboration with valuable information in regards to this article: Dr. Valeria Mulli (Argentina), Dr. Enrique Berner (Argentina), Dr. Rolando Gonzales (Bolivia), Dr. Evelyn Eisenstein (Brazil), Dina Krauskopf (Chile), Dr. Diva Moreno (Colombia), Dr. Jorge Naranjo (Ecuador), Dr. Eleodoro Freyre (Peru), Dr. Maria Del Carmen Calle (Peru), Dr. Rosario Del Solar (Peru), Dr. Isabel Gomez (Peru), and Dr. Armando Arias (Venezuela).

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Received: 2015-1-8

Accepted: 2015-2-27

Published Online: 2015-6-26

Published in Print: 2016-8-1

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Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ijamh-2016-5013

Keywords for this article

adolescent care; adolescent health; education; healthcare professionals; healthcare providers; training