Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights
Globally, there is an increasing sense of urgency to recognize adolescents as a unique demographic group. The United Nations launched the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030) in support of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Global Accelerated Action for the Health of Adolescents 2017. The strategy focuses on adolescents as being pivotal in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. This presents an opportune time for Tanzania to build upon these global commitments to the rapidly increasing adolescent population who are crucial to driving industrialization.
The Ministry of Health and key stakeholders have played a leading role in ensuring a proper policy environment to support this agenda. The key policy documents include Health Policy (2007), Fifth revision of the Health Sector strategic plan (HSSPV-2021), ICPD25 Commitments, FP2030 Commitments, National Plan for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health & Nutrition, (One plan III-2021), the National Accelerated Action and Investment Agenda for Adolescent Health and Wellbeing (NAIA-AHW, 2021-25) and the National Adolescent Health and Development (ADHD-2018-2022) Strategy. Tanzania has tenth largest youth population globally, with about two third of the population under-25 years and teenagers (15-19 years) make about a quarter (22%) of the Tanzanians. With this demography, challenges and respective solutions among this group are likely to significantly impact the entire population now and in the future.
Low social economic status, bad traditional beliefs, customs and norms, illiteracy, low level of education and lack of accessible and reliable youth-friend health services, among other barriers have significantly made teenage experience challenging in Tanzania. The median age at first sexual intercourse is 17.2 years for women and to 18.2 years for men with and most have them having low knowledge on sexuality and risks associated with early sexual debut. Comprehensive knowledge of HIV is still low among Tanzania youth; as less than half found to be knowledgeable. The high teenage pregnancy rate in Tanzania is true reflection of this reality, with more than a quarter (27%) of teenagers (15-19 years) reporting to have begun child-bearing in 2015, a higher rate than that reported in 2010(23%).
Implementing adolescent-specific interventions that are at scale, multisectoral, integrated, resourced, and monitored is inevitable if we are to resolve challenges facing this critical population group. Central to this task is ensuring availability and accessibility of adolescent friendly services. WHO defines adolescent friendly health services as those that are accessible, equitable, acceptable, appropriate, comprehensive, effective and efficient and consider the special needs of adolescents. The MOH and implementing partners have therefore prioritized needed investment in policies, infrastructure and resources that are responding this need. The national Adolescent health strategies of 2004, 2011 and 2018 have all emphasized this key concept and defined clearly standards for provision of Adolescent Friendly Health Services. This conference presents a forum for key stakeholders to share evidences, experiences and come with deliberations as solutions to create a more appealing health ecosystem for adolescent to thrive.
