Actions That Protect: Promoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Choice Among Young People in India
SummaryText
This paper combines the evidence on the sexual and reproductive health situation of young people in India, and explores what is known about underlying factors that place them at risk of or protect them from unsafe and unwanted sexual and reproductive health experiences.
From the Abstract
"The picture that emerges suggests that substantial proportions of young people experience risky or unwanted sexual activity, do not receive prompt or appropriate care, and experience adverse reproductive health outcomes. Contextual factors such as poverty, gender imbalances and lack of education or livelihood opportunities clearly increase the vulnerability of youth. Other factors at the family, community and facility level may also exacerbate risk. While young people's knowledge and awareness about sexual and reproductive health is increasing, much of this knowledge remains superficial and ridden with myths, misperceptions and a sense of invulnerability. Gender power imbalances make risky behaviours acceptable, encourage secrecy and fear of disclosure, and inhibit negotiation among partners. Lack of communication with parents and other trusted adults, similarly, keeps young people ill informed and unlikely to receive parental support or counsel in relation to sexual matters. Sexuality education remains inadequate and irrelevant to young people's needs, and services remain inaccessible, unacceptable, unaffordable and of indifferent quality. Several encouraging signs are, however, evident.
The sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents and young people are on the national agenda. There is growing recognition that young people themselves must be given a role in articulating, designing, implementing and evaluating such programmes. Finally, experiences of a few programmes already exist that appear to successfully respond to young people's sexual and reproductive health needs in innovative and acceptable ways."
The paper concludes by recommending, on the basis of available evidence, a core set of promising actions that protect. This paper is published in the Population Council's "South & East Asia Regional Working Paper No. 18".
Table of Contents
List of tables and figures
Abstract
Acknowledgements
Caveat
1. Introduction
2. Context of sexual relations among young people
6. Conclusions and recommendations
References
Appendices
Click here to download the paper in PDF format [344 KB].
From the Abstract
"The picture that emerges suggests that substantial proportions of young people experience risky or unwanted sexual activity, do not receive prompt or appropriate care, and experience adverse reproductive health outcomes. Contextual factors such as poverty, gender imbalances and lack of education or livelihood opportunities clearly increase the vulnerability of youth. Other factors at the family, community and facility level may also exacerbate risk. While young people's knowledge and awareness about sexual and reproductive health is increasing, much of this knowledge remains superficial and ridden with myths, misperceptions and a sense of invulnerability. Gender power imbalances make risky behaviours acceptable, encourage secrecy and fear of disclosure, and inhibit negotiation among partners. Lack of communication with parents and other trusted adults, similarly, keeps young people ill informed and unlikely to receive parental support or counsel in relation to sexual matters. Sexuality education remains inadequate and irrelevant to young people's needs, and services remain inaccessible, unacceptable, unaffordable and of indifferent quality. Several encouraging signs are, however, evident.
The sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents and young people are on the national agenda. There is growing recognition that young people themselves must be given a role in articulating, designing, implementing and evaluating such programmes. Finally, experiences of a few programmes already exist that appear to successfully respond to young people's sexual and reproductive health needs in innovative and acceptable ways."
The paper concludes by recommending, on the basis of available evidence, a core set of promising actions that protect. This paper is published in the Population Council's "South & East Asia Regional Working Paper No. 18".
Table of Contents
List of tables and figures
Abstract
Acknowledgements
Caveat
1. Introduction
2. Context of sexual relations among young people
- Onset of sexual relations within marriage
- Premarital sexual relations
- Sexual relations: How risky?
- Associated risk behaviours
- Pregnancy and childbearing
- Reproductive tract and sexually transmitted infections,including HIV/AIDS
- Raising awareness and overcoming misperceptions
- Building self-efficacy, negotiation, life and livelihood skills
- Strengthening linkages with parents: Communication interaction and support on sexual and reproductive health matters
- Making programmes youth-centred and youth-led
6. Conclusions and recommendations
References
Appendices
Click here to download the paper in PDF format [344 KB].
Publishers
Number of Pages
53
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