The aim of this meeting is to provide health care providers with up to date evidence-based information related to transitioning of children to adolescents to young adults. Adolescence (ages 10-19 years) and young adulthood (ages 20-24 years)are periods in an individual's life highlighted by significant physical, social, behavioral, and psychological developmental changes.
During these pivotal periods, adolescents and young adults establish behavioral patterns that determine current and future health outcomes. Moreover, these periods are windows of opportunity for healthcare providers and parents or caregivers to teach, support, and foster healthy behaviors, encourage independence and active decision making, and usher adolescents into the adult-centered healthcare system. To appreciate the magnitude of this challenge, every year in Uganda nearly 4 million people become 18 years of age. In fact, nearly 1/3 of Uganda’s population is aged 10-19 years,a key reason why we should understand how best to take care of this population.