Globally, there are approximately 222 million women with an unmet need for contraception, 50 million of whom are under 25 years.
Nearly 16 million adolescent girls give birth every year and the majority of these births occur within the context of early marriage and 90 per cent occur in developing countries.
In addition, 7.4 million adolescent girls experience an unplanned pregnancy, in part, due to a lack of access to contraceptives.
In sub-Saharan Africa, up to 68 per cent of adolescents have an unmet need for contraception.
This issue is compounded by the fact that high failure rates and discontinuation in the use of contraception are more likely among adolescents.
This is due to preferences for short-term methods of contraception, possible side effects and their appropriate management, the need for contraception and continued challenges in correct contraceptive use.
Identifying and scaling up effective strategies to help young people make informed, healthy choices about their sexual and reproductive lives is critical.
We know that too many young people have limited information about reproductive health and many others face discrimination when they try to seek services.
Alongside education, ensuring that young people have access to a comprehensive package of SRH services delivered in a supportive and respectful environment is key to empowering young people.
The international community has prioritised the introduction and scale-up of youth-friendly approaches to education and service delivery.
Different researchers share strategies that are used to reach clients under 25 years.
A youth-friendly environment ensures young clients feel more comfortable and confident in seeking services.
Different outreach teams attract high numbers of married, young women seeking contraceptive services.
But too often rural, single youth do not seek services because adults in their community are present at outreach sites.
Strategies that bring services directly to these young clients in their schools and workplaces have proven successful.
Flexibility to offer services in youth centres and mini-clinics provides further options for meeting young people’s needs in thown community.
Recognising that young people face high levels of discrimination and stigma, we need to work closely with communities to change attitudes about young people’s sexual and reproductive health.
Many young people lack the confidence and knowledge to negotiate safer sex or plan ahead for contraceptive needs.
Hence, education and counselling are key.
Effective involvement of young people in the design, implementation, and evaluation of programmes helps to ensure that their needs are addressed.
There are many programmes on young people based on adolescent sexuality and the barriers to the uptake of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services.
Sexual and reproductive health services often have a strong focus on physical issues, but the young people involved felt that their concerns are often more related to social and mental aspects of sexual and reproductive health.
Young people perceived that services are for those who were sexually active or adults only.
Social stigma is a significant barrier for young people to access sexual and reproductive health services, along with physical and material barriers such as distance to services and costs.
Peer educators and community mobilisation form an important and effective strategy to increase awareness, demand, access, and quality, and establish partnerships with the community.
Young people utilise services more often when outreach activities are available.
Executive Director at Epic Youth Organization
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
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