Inequities and Investments: The Landscape of Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health in Asia and the Middle East

Sixty percent of the world’s young people live in Asia and over 30% of the Middle East population is between the ages of 15 and 29.  Youth in this region, especially girls, face challenges that threaten their reproductive health and ability to thrive. Early marriage, gender inequality, unintended pregnancy, and HIV and other sexually transmitted infections are causes and consequences of many challenges.  Girls and young women have limited reproductive rights. Growing youth populations also present an opportunity for the Asia and Middle East (AME) regions: healthy, empowered young people can be productive, influential community members. Investments in young people’s sexual and reproductive health (SRH) can vastly improve their lives and have a positive influence in the region.

Through USAID’s Advancing Partners & Communities award (APC), we conducted a landscape analysis on key youth gender and SRH indicators, successful programmatic approaches and activities, programmatic needs, and relevant laws and policies. Regional reports incorporate results from stakeholder interviews.

Youth SRH issues in the AME vary greatly by country. Data are limited and are often not easily accessible or disaggregated by age or gender. The implementation of effective youth SRH programs and policies requires a comprehensive understanding of the complicated issues affecting young people.

The landscape analysis provides an overview of gender and SRH issues and opportunities of young people living in the AME region. This presentation will highlight findings and discuss the need for country-specific and disaggregated data to inform youth SRH policy, advocacy and programming in the region.