Poor access to SRH and HIV information, commodities such as condoms and contraceptives, and other services contribute to high levels of unplanned pregnancy and the spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Child marriage is common in parts of the region, often accompanied with family and community pressure to bear children at a young age. Adolescent girls with unplanned pregnancies often seek abortion services from untrained practitioners in hazardous circumstances and unhygienic conditions due to limited access to safe and legal abortion in most of the region. One-third of unsafe abortions in the region occur in young women under age 25. There are multiple factors, including cultural, financial, logistical, institutional, legal and policy factors, that play a role in determining young people’s access to services. Some issues facing adolescents overlap with those facing adults in similar contexts, such as concerns about the distance to services, or embarrassment about needing, wanting or asking for SRH information and commodities. Other obstacles facing young people are unique to them, and influenced by their age and stage of life. For example, many adolescents and young people lack access to independent finances to purchase commodities or cover health care fees, insurance or transportation costs to services. Some have limited autonomy in decision making, with decisions on whether they should seek care largely made by parents, spouses, in-laws and other gatekeepers. And in many settings, conservative views regarding adolescent sexual behaviour create reluctance among health care workers to provide information or services to young people.
#LawsAndPolicies #YoungPeople #SexualAndReproductiveHealth #HIVServices #STIs
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Publisher:
UNESCO, UNFPA, UNAIDS, UNDP
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(2013
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Type / Script:
Progress Report
in English
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Keywords:
REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH, ADOLESCENTS, HIV/AIDS, HIV INFECTIONS, SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASE, AIDS PREVENTION, MARRIAGE, LEADERSHIP, DISCRIMINATION, POLICY MAKING, FEMALE STERILIZATION, RIGHT TO PRIVACY, ABORTION, LAW, HEALTH, POPULATION, HEALTH SERVICES, CONTRACEPTIVES, CHILDREN, WOMEN, PROSTITUTION, LEGISLATION, HEALTH CARE DELIVERY, HUMAN RIGHTS, VIOLENCE, RURAL AREAS, PUNISHMENT, GOVERNANCE, GAMBLING, DECISION MAKING, EDUCATION, SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED PERSONS, SEX EDUCATION, SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR
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Thematic Group:
UNESCO
:
Educational, Scientific and Cultural
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Thesaurus:
10.06.02
- Medical Sciences
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Reference Link:
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