263,148
girls reached with adolescent sexual and reproductive health information and services across two countries in sub-Saharan Africa
Reducing unsafe abortion among adolescent girls in high-burden countries in sub-Saharan Africa
23 million girls aged 15 to 19 years in low and middle-income countries have an unmet need for modern contraception. As a result, half of pregnancies among this group are estimated to be unintended.
Where girls do seek an abortion they face social, legal or economic barriers. Girls are forced to resort to unsafe methods of abortion and can’t access post-abortion contraception. This year, 3.9 million girls in low an middle income countries will have an unsafe abortion – more than 10,600 every day.
Complications in pregnancy and childbirth are the leading cause of death for this age group globally. The WHO estimates that 10,000 teenage girls will die each year, and for every death, 15 will suffer life-changing injuries. In addition, we know that many girls face misinformation, fear and stigma and services and information are often not tailored to girls’ specific needs.
‘Supporting Access for Adolescents to Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health Services’ (Safire) was an innovative programme seeking to dramatically reduce deaths and injury from unsafe abortions among girls in some of the countries with the highest burden in Sub-Saharan Africa.
We worked with local implementing partners and community based Oorganisations, leading technical experts, and social marketing organisations to destigmatise and support girls’ choices to reduce unsafe abortion.
Taking a Human Centred Design approach, we used in-depth research and analysis to develop solutions to enable girls’ access to quality and confidential reproductive health services.
By the end of the five-year programme (2018-2023), we had:
girls reached with adolescent sexual and reproductive health information and services across two countries in sub-Saharan Africa
vendors trained to provide quality sexual and reproductive health services
Global Practice Specialist, Health Governance
Assistant Director of Programmes
Deputy Team Lead, The Girl Generation, Support to the Africa-led Movement to End FGM/C
This policy brief takes stock of Zambia’s progress in achieving its sexual and reproductive health rights commitments.
This multiblog looks at what it takes to make sexual and reproductive health a reality for those left behind.
Sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls isn’t just an issue for low income countries with poor health systems.