This study is a descriptive review of the effectiveness of initiatives to improve adolescent access to and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS) in low- and middle-income countries.
This article is part of a stock-taking effort of progress toward the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) definition of SRHS as a fundamental human right, including for adolescents. Adolescent ability and willingness to access SRHS can, as indicated here, serve to reduce the rate of HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), births and maternal deaths, and unwanted pregnancies, among other benefits to their health. For example: “Despite the clear need for access to SRHS, coverage rates are low. Data from five countries in [Sub-Saharan Africa] SSA with high rates of new HIV infections found that 7%-31% of males and 9%-58% of girls aged 15-24 years had been tested for HIV and received their results.”
This study used literature reviews, looking for reports with systematic review methodology (i.e., reproducible and broad search strategy, clear inclusion/exclusion criteria, examination of biases, and strength of evidence). It also sought updated data about initiatives that were included in identified review articles and examined information from a set of organisations that are involved in the delivery, funding, or evaluation of adolescent SRHS. It “examined four SRHS intervention types: (1) facility based, (2) out-of-facility based, (3) interventions to reach marginalized or vulnerable populations, (4) interventions to generate demand and/or community acceptance. Outcomes assessed across the four questions included uptake of SRHS or sexual and reproductive health commodities and sexual and reproductive health biologic outcomes.”
Implications of this research: