Definition of Reproductive Health

1. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND RIGHTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE.PRESENTED BY:MS.ROSEMARY MUGWEREGIONAL POLICY COORDINATORIPAS AFRICA ALLIANCE.

2. Definition of Reproductive Health • Reproductive health is defined as a state of physical, mental, and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system at all stages of life. • Within the framework of WHO's definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity, reproductive health addresses the reproductive processes, functions and system at all stages of life. Reproductive health, therefore, implies that people are able to have a responsible, satisfying and safe sex life and that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so." ( WHO)

4. RH includes: • Family Planning • STI prevention and management ( HIV included) • Pregnancy related care • Unwanted pregnancy and abortion • Prevention and management of reproductive health cancers • Infertility management

5. Why the Youth? Facts • Half the world’s population is under the age of 25, more than 3 billion people. young people’s choices today will directly determine the well-being of people around the world for generations to come. • At least 215 million women worldwide want to limit or space their births, but don’t have access to modern family planning methods. It is estimated that the unmet need for family planning is twice as great for young people. • For young women ages 15 to 19 in low- and middle- income countries, complications from pregnancy are the leading cause of death. ( WHO)

6. Cont. • Adolescent girls are at the highest risk for maternal mortality. Each additional pregnancy increases a girl’s risk of maternal death. Maternal mortality was found to be twice as high for women aged 15–19 years compared to women aged 20–29 years.(WHO) • Globally, 70 percent of women hospitalized with complications from an unsafe abortion are under the age of 20 (Plan 2007) • About half of the global deaths from unsafe abortion are in young women ages 24 or younger (WHO 2004)

7. Cont. • Eighty-two million girls in developing countries, ages 10 to 17, marry before their 18th birthday. • Girls under the age of 16 are at increased risk for prolonged obstructed labor which often leads to fistula because the pelvis of a young girl is not yet fully developed for childbirth

8. Cont. • A study of 18 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted in Africa between 1993 and 2001 found that two out of five unmarried females aged 15–24 were sexually active. • According to a 2008 UNAIDS report, 3.3 million youth in sub-Saharan Africa are living with AIDS and 76 percent of youth living with HIV/AIDS are female. • WHO estimates that youth account for almost 60 percent of unsafe abortions performed in Africa.

9. Cont. • As of 2005, one-third of all women living with HIV are between the ages of 15 and 24. Of the over 1 billion youth (ages 15-24) worldwide, some 10 million are living with HIV. Every day, an estimated 6,000 youth are infected with the virus. • In Africa, about 3 million girls are at risk for FGM annually. • An estimated 100 to 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of FGC/FGM. Adverse obstetric outcomes.

10. What do we know about RH? • TEEN WEB STUDY findings.

11. Challenges faced by youth while accessing RH services • The services are designed for the adult client and service providers are not trained in adolescent sexuality and youth-friendly SRH concepts; • Many of the facilities’ working environments are not youth friendly, and services for adolescents are poorly publicized; • Service provider attitudes and biases are a great barrier to youthservices; • Privacy and confidentiality are generally lacking;

13. Right to RH for the Youth • Reproductive health rights are Human rights that appear in several International rights instruments, regional documents and national documents. • They apply equally to the youth as to other adult men and women.

14. WHO Strategy • The WHO Global reproductive health strategy was adopted in the 57th World HealthAssembly(WHA • MDG5b • ICPD

15. African Youth Charter • Article 16: Health 2. State parties shall undertake to pursue the full implementation of this right and in particular shall take measures to: b). Secure the full involvement of youth in identifying their reproductive and health needs and designing programmes that respond to these needs with special attention to vulnerable and disadvantaged youth: c).Provide access to youth friendly reproductive health services including contraceptives, antenatal and post natal services:

16. e). Institute comprehensive programs to prevent the transmission of sexually transmitted infection and HIV/AIDs by providing education, information, communication and awareness creation as well as making protective measures and reproductive health services available; • i). Institute comprehensive programmes including legislative steps to prevent unsafe abortion;

17. Countries that have ratified AYC • Signature= 38 • Ratification = 24

18. Knowing your RH rights is empowering! • The Right to Life • The Right to Equality, and to be Free from all Forms of Discrimination • The Right to Privacy • The Right to Information and Education • The Right to Choose Whether or Not to Marry and to Found and Plan a Family • The Right to Health Care and Health Protection • The Right to the Benefits of Scientific Progress

19. RECOMENDATIONS • GIMAC network should create awareness in all its networks on the importance of youth RH by disseminating information and in particular Art.16 of the Africa Youth Charter • GIMAC network should lobby heads of states to ratify the African Youth Charter, domesticate it and put systems in place to ensure efficient implementation. • Urge member states to harmonize Reproductive health national laws and policies with the existing international and regional instruments on Reproductive Health

20. We should lobby our Governments to put a budget in place for youth friendly quality reproductive health services .( best practice; sanitary towels in Kenya) • GIMAC network should initiate research on the linkage of Reproductive Health with the other thematic areas

21. Quote! YOUTH REQUIRE OUR BEST EFFORTS. THEY DESERVE OUR BEST EFFORTS. TODAY, THEY CHALLENGE US TO ENHANCE THEIR WELLBEING THROUGH ENACTING SOUND POLICIES, ENFORCING THE PRUDENT POLICIES THAT EXIST AND MOST OF ALL: LISTENING TO THEIR NASCENT WISDOM.( Hon Anyang’’Nyongo, Minster of Health in Kenya) .

22. Thank you