1 Adolescent Reproductive Health Presented by: Dr. Richard O. Muga (MBS) National Co-ordinating Agency for Population and Development, Nairobi- Kenya Seminar for African Journalist held at Hilton Hotel, Nairobi-Kenya on th June 2006.

2 STI’s and HIV/AIDS World Wide: 111 million of 333 million new cases of STI’s occur to people under age 25 years World Wide: 111 million of 333 million new cases of STI’s occur to people under age 25 years Kenya: Among those tested for HIV/AIDS 3% (711) and 0.4% (745) of women and men aged years respectively have been infected with HIV/AIDS Kenya: Among those tested for HIV/AIDS 3% (711) and 0.4% (745) of women and men aged years respectively have been infected with HIV/AIDS

3 Adolescent Reproductive Health

4 CURRENT SITUATION OF ADOLESCENTS

5 Outline of the presentation Adolescent sexual experience Adolescent sexual experience STIs and HIV/AIDS STIs and HIV/AIDS Contraceptive use Contraceptive use Female genital cutting Female genital cutting Pregnancy and child bearing Pregnancy and child bearing Unsafe Abortions Unsafe Abortions What can we do? What can we do?

6 Introduction Adolescents are those aged years Adolescents are those aged years Globally, those aged years are estimated at 1.2 billion Globally, those aged years are estimated at 1.2 billion Most men and women become sexually active during adolescence Most men and women become sexually active during adolescence Adolescents reproductive health decisions outcomes are highly devastating Adolescents reproductive health decisions outcomes are highly devastating Adolescents face several barriers such as social norms and cultural taboos about young people’s sexuality Adolescents face several barriers such as social norms and cultural taboos about young people’s sexuality

7 Sexual Behavior among Youth Women: almost half of young women have sex by the time they turn 18. And more than one in ten (13%) have sex by the time they are 15. Women: almost half of young women have sex by the time they turn 18. And more than one in ten (13%) have sex by the time they are 15. Men: Young men start having sex at an earlier age. Sixty percent had sex by age 18, and a quarter had sex by age 15. Men: Young men start having sex at an earlier age. Sixty percent had sex by age 18, and a quarter had sex by age 15. Sub-Saharan Africa: 30% of unmarried women (15-19 years) have had sex Sub-Saharan Africa: 30% of unmarried women (15-19 years) have had sex

8 Outcomes of sexual behaviour 70% of adolescents in Kenya engage in high risk unprotected sex 70% of adolescents in Kenya engage in high risk unprotected sex STI’s, HIV/AIDS STI’s, HIV/AIDS Increased risks of unwanted pregnancies Increased risks of unwanted pregnancies Unsafe abortions resulting into severe illness Unsafe abortions resulting into severe illness Complications during abortions causing infertility and deaths Complications during abortions causing infertility and deaths

9 Premarital Sex and Condom Use Percent

10 Teen Pregnancy and Motherhood Rift Valley 31% Western 27% Nairobi 20% Central 15% Coast 29% Eastern 15% North Eastern 29% Nyanza 21% Kenya: 23% Percent of women age who are mothers or pregnant with their first child. World wide it is estimated that 15 million women aged give birth every year World wide it is estimated that 15 million women aged give birth every year

11 Risks of Early Child bearing Less education hence lower future income for young mothers Less education hence lower future income for young mothers Social rejection by community Social rejection by community Obstructed labour resulting into permanent injury or death for mother and infant Obstructed labour resulting into permanent injury or death for mother and infant Premature and low birth weight deliveries Premature and low birth weight deliveries

12 Unsafe Abortions Unsafe abortions have serious health risks Unsafe abortions have serious health risks Globally, 2.5 million unsafe abortions occur among adolescent girls aged years Globally, 2.5 million unsafe abortions occur among adolescent girls aged years Pregnancy related abortions and child birth are leading cause of deaths to adolescents aged years Pregnancy related abortions and child birth are leading cause of deaths to adolescents aged years Kenya, 4 in every 10 women who die from unsafe abortions are adolescents Kenya, 4 in every 10 women who die from unsafe abortions are adolescents

13 Contraceptive Use Contraceptive use among the adolescents is very low Contraceptive use among the adolescents is very low Sub-Saharan Africa 35% of unmarried sexually active women use modern contraception Sub-Saharan Africa 35% of unmarried sexually active women use modern contraception Kenya: only 5% of sexually active adolescents use modern contraceptive methods Kenya: only 5% of sexually active adolescents use modern contraceptive methods

14 Current Use of Family Planning Percent women (age 15-24) using a family planning method Age Sub-Saharan Africa: 35% of unmarried sexually active women (15-19 years) use modern contraception Sub-Saharan Africa: 35% of unmarried sexually active women (15-19 years) use modern contraception

15 Female Genital Cutting Between 100 million and 180 million women world wide have undergone FGC practice Between 100 million and 180 million women world wide have undergone FGC practice Every day some 600 girls world wide are at risk of undergoing FGC Every day some 600 girls world wide are at risk of undergoing FGC Kenya, 20% of women aged years have undergone FGC Kenya, 20% of women aged years have undergone FGC The practice of FGC is currently outlawed in Kenya under the children’s Act of 2001 The practice of FGC is currently outlawed in Kenya under the children’s Act of 2001

16 Female Genital Cutting Female Genital Cutting have serious consequences on women: Female Genital Cutting have serious consequences on women: Infections, pain and bleeding which can lead to shock and possibly death Infections, pain and bleeding which can lead to shock and possibly death Prolonged and obstructed labour Prolonged and obstructed labour Fistula Fistula Inability to enjoy sexual rights Inability to enjoy sexual rights

17 What can be done? What can be done? Provide sexual and reproductive health information and services to adolescents Provide sexual and reproductive health information and services to adolescents Put in place proper Legislation Put in place proper Legislation Support multi-sectoral programmes Support multi-sectoral programmes Provide health education to adolescents such as responsible sexual behaviour, HIV/AIDS, sexuality, family planning Provide health education to adolescents such as responsible sexual behaviour, HIV/AIDS, sexuality, family planning

18 What can be done? Encourage parents to actively involve themselves in adolescent reproductive health issues Encourage parents to actively involve themselves in adolescent reproductive health issues Train more peer educators to reach out the adolescents Train more peer educators to reach out the adolescents Provide integrated health services to adolescents such as family planning information and services Provide integrated health services to adolescents such as family planning information and services

19 What Can Be Done? Establish adolescent-friendly services Establish adolescent-friendly services Ensure adolescent-friendly services have high quality information necessary for informed consent Ensure adolescent-friendly services have high quality information necessary for informed consent Increase opportunities for women’s education and employment Increase opportunities for women’s education and employment Encourage alternative rites of passage Encourage alternative rites of passage

20 Global Appeal Adolescents today are increasingly facing more reproductive health challenges than ever before Adolescents today are increasingly facing more reproductive health challenges than ever before More efforts is needed by all actors to address adolescents reproductive health issues More efforts is needed by all actors to address adolescents reproductive health issues Invest in the young people today to assure tomorrow Invest in the young people today to assure tomorrow

21 Who we Are NCAPD is a SAGA established through legal notice no. 120 of 29 th October 2004 NCAPD is a SAGA established through legal notice no. 120 of 29 th October 2004 Provide leadership in Population and development matters Provide leadership in Population and development matters Assess multi-sectoral population issues and support stakeholders Assess multi-sectoral population issues and support stakeholders Advocate for Political and other support to address population issues Advocate for Political and other support to address population issues

22 Who we are Vision: To be an institution of excellence in Population Policy formulation and Management Mission: To provide leadership in Formulating, Coordinating and implementing Population Policies and Programmes for Sustainable Development Contact: Chancery Building, 4 th Floor, Valley Road P.O BOX Nairobi, Kenya. Tel: / Fax: Website: