Addressing diversity in adolescent sexual and reproductive health services

Abstract

The social, economic, and biological events that mark adolescence profoundly influence and shape future adult lives. Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, education, and other social programs are needed to support young people for a healthy start. As adolescents transition into adulthood, SRH programs and services that have skilled health providers, in combination with other social services including comprehensive sexuality education, can help prevent unwanted pregnancies, maternal mortality and morbidity, as well as sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. Programs and services can also provide counseling to prevent sexual violence and abuse and deal with its consequences. Adolescent SRH programs can be more effective if the demographic diversity of this age group is studied. Vulnerable adolescents should be targeted as priority recipients of youth-friendly SRH and other social support services. Data demonstrate that adolescent girls living in rural areas who are not in school and who are often married as children are vulnerable to maternal mortality and morbidity, unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortion, HIV infection, and sexual violence and abuse. Building adolescent capacities and opportunities requires programs that support adolescent social, economic, and health assets so that they can contribute socially and economically to their societies. A healthy adolescent population is critical for low-resource countries, where a rising proportion of the population is under 24 years of age. Recommendations for strengthening the effectiveness of SRH programs detailed at the FIGO World Congress in 2009 are discussed.

A Model for the Management of Female Sexual Dysfunctions

“…13 Therefore, most patients have relatively little education and low level of access to information on healthy sexuality; this is a common situation, especially in developing countries. 14,15 Several validated self-reported and clinician-administered instruments are available for assessing female sexual function in clinical research trials; however ,a lack of protocol for practicing clinicians who are neither trained nor specialized in female sexual dysfunction exists. 16 Even in countries where physician training includes sexology programs, 8 most physicians still feel ill-equipped to address sexual problems.…”

Risk factors associated with HIV infection among young persons aged 15–24 years: Evidence from an in-depth analysis of the 2005–06 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey

“…Decosas (2009) noted that despite the increased donor support, national health programmes on HIV and AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections that are targeted at young people are still lacking in West Africa and other African countries. Laski and Wong (2010) have also argued that adolescents form a significant proportion of most developing countries' populations and hence their health status is of paramount importance to poorly resourced countries. They further noted that adolescent girls living in rural areas were particularly vulnerable to HIV infection, sexual violence and abuse (Laski & Wong 2010).…”

“…Laski and Wong (2010) have also argued that adolescents form a significant proportion of most developing countries' populations and hence their health status is of paramount importance to poorly resourced countries. They further noted that adolescent girls living in rural areas were particularly vulnerable to HIV infection, sexual violence and abuse (Laski & Wong 2010). Hindin and Fatusi (2009) noted that 70% of adolescents live in developing countries and that the environment in which they are growing up, and having to make sexual and reproductive health decisions, is rapidly evolving due to technological advancement in the media, internet and telecommunications.…”

Iranian university students’ perceived reproductive health needs

“…Despite the considerable unmet needs of this age group and the concerns voiced by the United Nations and other international organizations, studies that address their reproductive health needs are too often neglected (3,4). Failure in this aspect process leaves young people vulnerable, and can lead to incorrect information and unhealthy behavior among the youth (5).…”