Since ICPD in 1994, adolescents have been identified as an important target in the African agenda, particularly where health issues are concerned. This is especially relevant considering that more than 50% of the African population is below age 20. The issues of adolescents, however, tends to be addressed very broadly, without distinguishing the differences of gender, age, marital status, or socio-economic situation. The most widely overlooked of these sub-groups has been married adolescent girls.
A study in St. Louis and Louga, Senegal, has explored the previously unknown situation of married adolescent girls' lives using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 300 girls. Analysis shows that married adolescent girls have little say in who or when they marry; have highly restricted mobility and fewer educational opportunities than their unmarried counterparts; have no decision-making power in their marital home; and have extremely limited access to reproductive health information and services despite the fact that they are unquestionably sexually active and will likely become mothers soon. These factors combine to render married adolescent girls among the most vulnerable of all young people, yet they are consistently overlooked in programming and interventions during the social moments (new marriage, pending motherhood) that they could most benefit.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will understand the general context of the lives of married adolescent girls in two urban areas of Senegal and be able to 1) articulate how married adolescents' health, including reproductive health, needs differ from those of their unmarried counterparts, and 2) recognize why these groups of girls need to be considered different populations when designing interventions.
Keywords: Adolescents, International, Decision-Making
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Population Council
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.