February 25, 2022

Early and unintended pregnancies threaten triple dividend

In the 21st century, the rights of women and girls over their bodies, sexual choices, and access to sexual health services, and the realisation of sexual and reproductive health rights are still determined by patriarchal systems and oppressive power. Attaining sexual and reproductive health rights remains political and in constant disequilibrium, vulnerable to politicised health issues and to financing decisions based on populism or subjective beliefs instead of a rights, health, and gender-equity approach. The most contested components of sexual and reproductive health rights are deciding whether to be sexually active, engaging in consensual sexual relationships, and accessing safe abortion services including post-abortion care. Furthermore, increasing opposition to implementing and strengthening comprehensive sex education in schools from religious communities, parents, and even teachers hinders progress, despite a sound evidence base on the centrality of comprehensive sex education in supporting adolescent sexual and reproductive health rights

Read more here: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanchi/article/PIIS2352-4642(21)00376-X/fulltext

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