TITLE: ACCESSIBILITY OF SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS INFORMATION AMONG MARGINALIZED YOUNG PEOPLE IN THREE MUNICIPALITIES IN TANZANIA Authors: Mbeba, Rita, Mbatiani, Suma, Lugome, Lucy, George, John.

SRHR Right to health is A human right – SRH is a human right

YOUNG PEOPLE YOUNG PEOPLE One in every five people worldwide are young people (WHO) Young people constitute one third of the population in Tanzania

YOUTH SRH CHALLENGES “unintended pregnancies” “illicit drug abuse” “Maternal mortality” “Teen pregnancies” “Sexual abuse” “high new HIV infections” “unsafe sex” Low socio economic status Unemployment Limited access to YFS and information Cultural factors “STIs” “school drop outs” “Unsafe abortion”

YOUNG PEOPLE SITUATION Low uptake for the Family planning; 16% for young women aged HIV prevalence rate 1.0 (15-19yrs ) and 3.2 (20-24yrs) Condom utilization (58%) females and 59% males aged Economically and socially less privileged young people engaged in sexual relationship at a younger age as a means to secure income/basic needs

OBJECTIVES The study assessed “accessibility of SRHR information among marginalized young people in Iringa, Ilala and Kinondoni Municipalities To determine the SRHR awareness level among marginalized young people To identify existing sources of SRHR information among marginalized young people To identify the social barriers facing marginalized young people’s in accessing SRHR information

METHODS A cross sectional study design using both quantitative and qualitative research method Dar es salaam (Ilala and Kinondoni Municipal Councils) and Iringa (Iringa Municipal Council) regions Marginalized young people, parents, teachers, peer educators and community leaders Purposive and snowball sampling Interviews using structured questionnaires and FGDs

RESULTS One out of five were not aware of their SRH rights Among those only 46.5% used condom in their first sexual encounter On average, 55% were aware of laws and policies related to SRH The level of awareness was higher among school truant (69%) compared to food vendors (34.8%) and housemaids (39.5%) Parents/guardians and teachers were the main sources of information about SRHR

RESULTS Young people received information about SRHR/STDs/HIV&AIDS in the past 12 months

RESULTS Overall, the leading sources of SRHR information were peer educators and radio by 36% and 22.8% respectively

RESULTS Main communication barriers:  Traditional norms and taboos  Inadequate knowledge among parents/guardians Quotations by parents during FGDs: “These issues should be taught in schools. What I can do is to warn them, don’t do this and that, but not really sitting with them to discuss and exchange ideas as you put it, there is nothing like that in our culture.” “You may have the intention to talk to children about these issues [SRHR] but for example myself, I don’t know much about these issues, I know very little, so what can I talk to them? Maybe we should be taught ourselves first before thinking of teaching them.” “Who should teach the other? These kids nowadays know everything, and we basically know nothing” (Male parent, Ilala).

CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATION Marginalized young people’s access to SRH rights information is disproportionate i.e. House maids Use diverse interventions and communication channels with different groups of young people; i.e. people with disabilities & maids Break the silence and barriers on parents-child communication Formative research is needed to inform the best approaches to reach marginalized groups