Sexual and Reproductive Health

Around 1.2 billion people, or one out of every six persons of the world's population, are adolescents, aged 10 to 19 years. Most of them are presumed to be healthy, but there is still substantial premature death, illness, and injury among adolescents. Illnesses hinder the ability of adolescents to grow and develop to their full potential. Early pregnancy and child birth, unprotected sex, and/or exposure to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted infections can jeopardize not only their current health but also their future health as adults and even the health of their future generations. Promoting healthy behaviors during adolescence and taking steps to better protect young people from health risks are critical for the prevention of health problems in adulthood and for the future health of coming generations as well as their ability to develop and thrive.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mustafa Khidir Mustafa Elnimeiri ◽  
Shahenaz Seifaldeen Mustafa Satti ◽  
Mohanad Kamaleldin Mahmoud Ibrahim

Abstract Background: Adolescence is widely defined as the time in life when the developing individual attains the skills and attributes necessary to become a productive and reproductive adult; Most adolescents are healthy, but there is still substantial premature death, illness, and injury among adolescents. Illnesses can hinder their ability to grow and develop to their full potential. Alcohol or tobacco use, lack of physical activity, unprotected sex and/or exposure to violence can jeopardize not only their current health, but also their health as adults or even health of their future children.Method: Community and institutional-based cross sectional study will be conducted in Khartoum State the seven localities will be included. This state is the national capital of Sudan, which has an area of 22,122km. The sample size of participant is estimated using the population formula (n=N/1+ (n*d) .The sample will be drawn using multistage cluster sampling.; Also the concerned bodies involved in delivery of reproductive health services for adolescents included in this study. Data will be collected using interview with key informants and administered pre-coded, pretested closed ended questionnaire with community participants. Data will be managed and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21. Analysis is mostly univariate descriptive and bi-variate with Chi Square &Fischer Exact tests analysis to find associations between variables of interest.Discussion: The census of adolescents mounted to 25% of the population and thus it is important to care for such significant portion of the population to document their reproductive health problems and their access to health care services. The study is expected to generate base-line indicators about barriers of access to reproductive health services by adolescents that can be used for better planning, monitoring and evaluation of the delivered serviceslt. The research about barriers of access to reproductive health services by adolescents in Sudan is still limited and the information is scanty and scattered. Thus, it is necessary to conduct such study to enrich the current database.


2020 ◽  
pp. bmjnph-2020-000122
Author(s):  
Tessa Roseboom

Studies of past crises have demonstrated that adverse experiences during critical periods of human development hamper the individual’s ability to reach its full potential and leaves lasting marks on health, behaviour, productivity and society as a whole. The COVID-19 crisis has severely worsened the environment in which we live and in which our future generations are being shaped, and will lead to loss of future human potential and capital. It is clear that the COVID-19 pandemic does not only harm the current world population, but also affects our future, as well as that of future generations. The science of transgenerational plasticity demonstrates that investments in early life hold the promise of having beneficial effects across multiple generations. As governments are reopening societies and prioritising policies, their overarching goal should be to improve the environment in which future generations grow and develop, learn and live. This will change the lifetime trajectories of children for the better and affect future health, school success, behaviour, productivity and well-being. This prioritisation will prove to be the most effective intervention to build sustainable futures but will also yield returns many times the original investment. It is a promising way to break the intergenerational cycle of adversity and accelerate progress on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.


2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 8
Author(s):  
Karen M. Devries ◽  
Caroline J. Free

Using data from a qualitative study on sexual health and condom use among Aboriginal young people in British Columbia, we explore young people’s views on pregnancy, fertility, and how these relate to sexually transmitted infection (STI) vulnerability. During 2004–2005, in-depth individual interviews were conducted with 15 young men and 15 young women who self-identified as Aboriginal. A descriptive thematic analysis is presented here. Aboriginal young people reported that there was some stigma attached to adolescent childbearing in their communities, but also acceptance and some positive norms around adolescent pregnancy. Most young people wanted to delay pregnancy until they were ready; for some, a serious relationship was an acceptable context for pregnancy. In this context, young people’s ambivalence toward pregnancy and concerns about hormonal contraception created a situation where unprotected sex was likely to occur. Families of origin played an important but complex role in shaping behaviour. Interventions that focus solely on condom use are unlikely to reduce rates of STIs among Aboriginal young people, especially those who are ambivalent about pregnancy. Efforts must focus on contextual elements that shape desire for pregnancy to maximize success.


Author(s):  
Aditi Sharma ◽  
N. K. Goel ◽  
Savita Prashar ◽  
Kshitij Choudhary

Background: Sexually transmitted diseases remain a significant issue among the young people. In order to implement effective preventive measures, awareness of the comorbid conditions and causation of STDs, as well as sexual behaviour, among vulnerable young people, such as university students, must be established. The objective of the study was to assess the awareness level of students regarding prevention and control of STDs.Methods: It was a cross-sectional study conducted at Panjab University situated in Chandigarh, India between February and August 2020. Purposive sampling was used to recruit students. Data was collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. The nature of the data was quantitative and was analyzed through SPSS version 20.Results: A total of 211 (female/male:51.7%/48.3%, mean age: 22.5 years) respondents were enrolled. The awareness regarding the safe sex practices was very high (98.1%). 99.1% respondents were aware of HIV and AIDS, 65.4% respondents who were aware of hepatitis B and 55% respondents who were aware of Gonorrhoea and Syphilis. To prevent STDs 86.3% respondents were aware of condom, 72% respondents were aware to avoid unprotected sex and 19.9% respondents knew of abstinence.Conclusions: Condoms awareness is still lacking in students. Consequently, it puts them at a higher risk of STDs. Such data can be used to strengthen ongoing STDs prevention efforts in India aimed at reducing STDs in young adults.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores Ramírez-Villalobos ◽  
Eric Alejandro Monterubio-Flores ◽  
Tonatiuh Tomás Gonzalez-Vazquez ◽  
Juan Francisco Molina-Rodríguez ◽  
Ma. Guadalupe Ruelas-González ◽  
...  

Abstract Background A common risk behavior in adolescence is the early initiation of unprotected sex that exposes adolescents to an unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections. Schools are an ideal place to strengthen adolescents’ sexual knowledge and modify their behavior, guiding them to exercise responsible sexuality. The purpose of this article was to evaluate the knowledge of public secondary school teachers who received training in comprehensive education in sexuality (CES) and estimate the counseling’s effect on students’ sexual behavior. Methods Seventy-five public school teachers were trained in participatory and innovative techniques for CES. The change in teacher knowledge (n = 75) was assessed before and after the training using t-tests, Wilcoxon ranks tests and a Generalized Estimate Equation model. The students’ sexual and reproductive behavior was evaluated in intervention (n = 650) and comparison schools (n = 555). We fit a logistic regression model using the students’ sexual debut as a dependent variable. Results Teachers increased their knowledge of sexuality after training from 5.3 to 6.1 (p < 0.01). 83.3% of students in the intervention school reported using a contraceptive method in their last sexual relation, while 58.3% did so in the comparison schools. The students in comparison schools were 4.7 (p < 0.01) times more likely to start sexual initiation than students in the intervention schools. Conclusion Training in CES improved teachers’ knowledge about sexual and reproductive health. Students who received counseling from teachers who were trained in participatory and innovative techniques for CES used more contraceptive protection and delayed sexual debut.


Author(s):  
Albert Farre ◽  
Sara Ryan ◽  
Abigail McNiven ◽  
Janet E. McDonagh

Abstract Introduction Young people’s transition into adulthood is intertwined with the worlds of education and work. Poor health in adolescence has been associated with poorer education and employment outcomes in adulthood. This paper explores the impact of arthritis on the educational and early work experiences of young people with arthritis. Methods We undertook a supplementary secondary analysis of a qualitative dataset comprising narrative and semi-structured interviews of 39 young people who had been diagnosed with arthritis in childhood, adolescence or young adulthood. Results Our findings illustrate how young people living with arthritis are faced with a range of added disruptions and challenges in their educational/vocational lives. There is an important element of resilience associated with the process of making a career choice and acting upon personal aspirations. Appropriate support and flexibility in the workplace/educational setting can enable successful outcomes, but disclosure is not a straightforward process for young people living with arthritis. Conclusions It is paramount that health providers consistently and effectively address self-advocacy skills with the young person, particularly during educational and vocational transitions. Alongside this, there is the need to further strengthen the health-school/work interface to ensure that young people living with chronic illness can meet their full potential in adulthood.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 159-167
Author(s):  
Rajesh Varma

Significant progress has been made in improving the awareness of young people of available contraception services and their access to these services. Nonetheless, many young people are reluctant to engage with health care professionals, and thus, can experience adverse consequences, such as unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection. This article presents a best practice approach to the management of young people requesting contraception in primary care. A systematic approach is advocated, employing an age-appropriate consultation style, confidentiality, competency testing, risk assessment and an individualised contraceptive treatment plan.


2011 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 132-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Hallum-Montes ◽  
Rohan D’Souza ◽  
Maria Isabel Tavarez ◽  
Russell Manzanero ◽  
Grace E. Dann ◽  
...  

Condom use during last sexual contact is a survey measure that may be used to inform monitoring and evaluation indicators of recent condom use in populations at risk for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections, such as the uniformed services. The authors tested for differences in condom use measures that were fielded within separate Biological and Behavioral Surveillance Surveys conducted in the armed forces of two separate nations: the Dominican Republic and Belize. Both surveys included measures of condom use during last sexual contact with specified partners and both surveys included the Risk Behavior Assessment (RBA), which measures specific sexual acts and condom use frequency during a specified time period. In both samples, more than 40% of respondents who reported condom use during last sexual contact with a regular partner also reported engaging in unprotected sex when screened with the RBA. Furthermore, more than 60% of respondents who reported condom use during last sexual encounter with a commercial sex worker also reported engaging in unprotected sex when screened with the RBA. The results carry implications for monitoring and evaluation indicators of large-scale HIV prevention programs. The authors recommend that, when feasible, more in-depth instruments such as the RBA be considered to measure recent condom use in populations of uniformed services personnel.


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