scholarly journals Editorial: Young People's Sexual and Reproductive Health in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Bridging the Research-to-Practice Gap

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliet Iwelunmor ◽  
Morenike Oluwatoyin Folayan ◽  
Ucheoma Nwaozuru ◽  
Oliver Ezechi
2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley Rose Ninsiima ◽  
Isabel Kazanga Chiumia ◽  
Rawlance Ndejjo

Abstract Background Despite the global agreements on adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health and rights, access to and utilisation of these services among the youth/adolescents remain unsatisfactory in low- and middle-income countries which are a significant barrier to progress in this area. This review established factors influencing access and utilisation of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services (YFSRHS) among the youth in sub-Saharan Africa to inform programmatic interventions. Methodology A systematic review of studies published between January 2009 and April 2019 using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline, and Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases was conducted. Studies were screened based on the inclusion criteria of barriers and facilitators of implementation of YFSRHS, existing national policies on provision of YFSRHS, and youth’s perspectives on these services. Findings A total of 23,400 studies were identified through database search and additional 5 studies from other sources. After the full-text screening, 20 studies from 7 countries met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. Structural barriers were the negative attitude of health workers and their being unskilled and individual barriers included lack of knowledge among youth regarding YFSRHS. Facilitators of utilisation of the services were mostly structural in nature which included community outreaches, health education, and policy recommendations to improve implementation of the quality of health services and clinics for adolescents/youth to fit their needs and preferences. Conclusion Stakeholder interventions focusing on implementing YFSRHS should aim at intensive training of health workers and put in place quality implementation standard guidelines in clinics to offer services according to youth’s needs and preferences. In addition, educating the youth through community outreaches and health education programs for those in schools can facilitate utilisation and scale up of the service.


2010 ◽  
pp. 143-170
Author(s):  
Riikka Shemeikka

Finland is one of the donor countries that is most supportive in family planning (FP), Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and gender issues. This study examines Finnish ODA for FP and SRHR: its decision-making structure, other stakeholders and funding levels. Data consists of documents from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) and interviews conducted at the MFA and with other experts. While Parliament decides on the overall level of ODA funding, the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development has considerable autonomy. Other stakeholders such as the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Population and Development and the Family Federation of Finland (Vestliitto) engage in advocacy work and have influenced development policy. Although the Development Policy 2007 mentions the importance of health and SRHR issues and HIV/AIDS is a cross-cutting issue, interviewees stated that the importance of health and SRHR in ODA has declined and that the implementation of cross-cutting issues is challenging. Multilateral funding for UNFPA, UNAIDS and GFATM, and thus the proportion of SRHR funding within the health sector, is however currently rising. Funding for population-related activities has increased and represented 4.8% of Finlands total ODA in 2009. Almost all of this funding is directed towards basic reproductive health and HIV/AIDS issues and the majority is directed through multilateral channels (78% in 2009), mainly UNFPA and UNAIDS. IPPF, Ipas and Marie Stopes International also receive support.


2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 32-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatch W. Kalembo ◽  
Maggie Zgambo ◽  
Du Yukai

Background: The objective of this review was to explore and identify feasible, socially acceptable and effective adolescent sexual and reproductive health education (ASRHE) programs in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Four databases were searched to identify studies conducted within the past 15 years which evaluate the effectiveness of ASRHE programs in sub-Saharan Africa. The databases searched were Embase, Medline, CINAHL, PyscINFO. A further search for relevant articles was made in the Google scholar website. The title and abstract of each article were analyzed for relevance by applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Further scrutiny and extraction of the studies was completed by selecting only those studies which met the criteria for inclusion. Results: Fifteen studies were identified. School, peer, mass media, health facility and community based ASRHE programs showed positive impact in one or more of the following outcomes in adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: ( i) knowledge of HIV transmission; (ii) perceived personal risk of contracting HIV/ AIDS; (iii) self-efficacy to negotiate condom use; (iv) discussion with others about HIV/AIDS or condom use; (v) abstinence from sexual relations; (vi) reduction in high-risk sexual behavior; (vii) condom use (vii) testing for sexually transmitted infection (STI) and (viii) treatment seeking behavior. Conclusion: ASRHE programs of diverse forms can produce positive change in adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH). There is need for rigorous research to assess long term behavioral effects of culturally tailored comprehensive ASRHE programs in sub-Saharan Africa.


Author(s):  
Saiqa Mullick ◽  
Melanie Pleaner ◽  
Mopo Radebe ◽  
Chelsea Morroni

This chapter provides a high level overview of key sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues in adolescent health with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. The chapter begins by providing an overview of key targets and definitions relating to adolescent SRH and then goes on to describe the heterogenous nature of SRH needs of adolescents, highlighting their often overlapping and multiple needs as well as challenges and barriers to access. The chapter then provides a synopsis of selected SRH issues, including prevalence and public health relevance, as well as a summary of evidence-based interventions. The chapter ends with controversies and challenges, as well as recommendations for future areas for research. It should be read in conjunction with Chapter 31 on HIV in adolescents.


2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 239-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatima Juárez ◽  
Thomas LeGrand ◽  
Cynthia B. Lloyd ◽  
Susheela Singh

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