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Kuhu Maitra, MBBS, DCH, MD and Jeff Bernson, MPA, MPH. International Health Group., Chemonics International Inc, 1133 20th St., NW, Washington, DC, DC 20036, 202-955-3340, kmaitra@chemonics.net
The future for more than 1.7 billion people between the ages of 10-24 depends on a country’s national ability and willingness to concentrate reproductive health programs focused on adolescent needs. At the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) in Cairo, Egypt, 38 sub-Saharan Africa countries drafted and ratified the Programme of Action that included support for the provision of sexual and reproductive health education, information, and services to youth. Addressing adolescent reproductive health issues is particularly crucial in sub-Saharan Africa where rates of maternal mortality, unsafe abortion, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases are the highest in the world. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and appraise policy reform in areas of sexual and reproductive health research and programming among youth in the sub-Saharan African countries of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia. In reviewing existing literature, country programs and initiatives the paper evaluates policy progress using criteria such as: a country’s willingness to embrace issues of adolescent reproductive health; ability of each country to initiate policies which would include laws that are enforced, coordination bodies that take action politically and programmatically and success of the programs as determined by objective third party evaluators being including multilateral, bilateral organizations or NGO’s. National and regional lessons learned revolve around lack resources, consistent political will and a clear mandate, and incidence and prevalence of immerging adolescent reproductive health morbidity/mortality.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Adolescent Health, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.