The ministry of health is in the process of developing a national strategy meant to promote positive reproductive health behaviour among adolescents and young people.
A team of technical experts drawn from the ministry of health and stakeholders have been putting final touches on the National Social and Behavioural Change (SBC) Strategy for Adolescents and Young People Sexual and Reproductive Health which seeks to address existing gaps through integrated SBC approaches.
According to Mary Magubo, the Social and Behavioural Change and communications coordinator at the Division of Reproductive and Maternal health, the strategy envisions innovative SRH services that will resonate with adolescents and young people aged between 10 – 24 years.
“The ministry of health recognizes that insufficient access to comprehensive and accurate age appropriate information about Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) has significant and far-reaching consequences which include increased rates of teenage pregnancies, new HIV and HPV infections, gender-based violence (GBV), and other risks related to ASRH.” Observed Magubo.
Photo by Felix Lemiso
Alfayo Wamburi, Social and Behavioural Change advisor at Breakthrough ACTION Kenya, one of the partners supporting development of the strategy, says adolescents are likely to face a range of health and social challenges adding that there is a need for health services to be responsive to the needs of adolescents and young people.
The social and behavioural change strategy, which is in the final stages of development, is targeted at increasing sexual and reproductive health knowledge and skills among adolescents and young people, creating demand and acceptability for age appropriate SRH services among adolescent and young people and strengthening the healthcare system to be more responsive to their needs by fostering an enabling environment through multi-sectoral collaboration.
