Youth SRHR Research Digest: Reflections from the Researcher

So, Lara, this piece of research focuses on youth SRHR, why are you interested in writing about this topic?

I came up through the global youth SRHR movement as a young advocate myself, around the time that ICPD Beyond 2014, Beijing+20, and Agenda 2030 intergovernmental negotiation processes were underway. I have been honoured to work with inspiring youth activists across various regions and countries, who tirelessly advocate for young people’s health and rights, including in restrictive settings. I have seen the impact and positive ripple effects that SRHR for young people can have, both within their communities, as well as on their own lives. Access to comprehensive sexuality education, a range of contraceptives, STI testing and treatment, and safe abortion care are all life-saving services, and help young people live on their own terms.

In doing this piece of research, we’re sure many new insights have come up. Can you give a couple of examples of findings you found particularly interesting or inspiring?

1. Building the economic case for investing in SRHR:
   This brief highlights new research demonstrating the significant impact and economic return that stand to be gained from jointly investing in cash transfers, parenting support, and adolescent-responsive SRHR services in low- and middle-income countries. Every USD$1 spent on a combination of adolescent-friendly SRH services, cash transfers, and parenting programmes is expected to yield a return of USD$3.99-$4.50 globally, in terms of reduced maternal and infant mortality, averted STIs, improved child nutrition, child development, human capital accumulation, household consumption and income, employment opportunities, earnings, mental health and crime reduction.
   
2. Building the case for investing in adolescents’ SRHR:
   This report has a chapter focused on adolescents aged 15–19, exploring some of the long-term benefits that increase from investing in adolescents’ SRHR. In low- and middle-income countries, if adolescent women’s contraceptive needs were fully met, unintended pregnancies among women aged 15–19 would decrease by 60%, from 10 million to 4 million per year; unplanned births would drop by 63%, from 3 million to 1 million per year; and abortions, most of which are likely to be unsafe, would drop by 58%, from 6 million to 2 million per year.

As the author of this piece, which 4 key takeaways do you think are important to share with those working on or advocating for youth SRHR?

1. As of 2024,very little data on the state of funding flows for youth SRHR is available. Data tends to be more available on funding flows and/or assistance for SRHR and gender equality and women’s empowerment more broadly, with some tracking of adolescent-targeted funding from gender equality donors. We need governments and donors to increase both domestic and international finance for SRHR, and ensure that funding for youth SRHR has specific, trackable lines in national health budgets while accounting for donor contributions.
2. There is a lack of age- and gender-disaggregated data within the humanitarian sector, and international aid more generally. Adolescent girls are rarely disaggregated within the populations of women, children, and youth. Adolescents for whom data is particularly limited and whose needs are frequently overlooked include those under 15, adolescents with disabilities, racial and ethnic minorities, indigenous populations, and LGBTQI+ youth. We need increased transparency on how money is spent, and better age- and gender-disaggregated data collection.
3. Data tends to be more available regarding the impact of investing in SRHR more broadly, versus the impact of specifically investing in young people’s SRHR. Evidence on the impact of investing in youth SRHR tends to focus on the impact resulting from meeting adolescents’ contraceptive needs, rather than from investing in other components of young people’s SRHR (e.g. access to safe abortion services). We need more research showcasing the benefits of investing in youth SRHR specifically, beyond meeting their contraceptive needs.
4. Programmes and education which capture a full working understanding of sexual health, acknowledging that sexual experiences can be “pleasurable,” have shown to improve not only knowledge and attitudes around sexual health, but also safer sex practices. Future research should consider ways to add pleasure in SRHR programming.

“My hope is that this youth SRHR digest will be a useful signpost for
SheDecides Champions and other advocates for youth SRHR, providing them
with helpful resources and talking points in support of their arguments and advocacy
for sustaining and/or increasing SRHR research, programming, and funding.”

Looking forward and beyond this piece of research, which other areas and questions do you feel deserve more research and attention?

• Youth SRHR in diverse contexts: Where youth SRHR research or data is available, it often stems from studies in high income countries such as the United States, or countries in Western Europe. In so far as research pertaining to the Global Majority, regional representation is uneven. There seems to be more research initiatives and data regarding young people’s SRHR in Sub-Saharan Africa, than in other regions such as Asia-Pacific or Latin America and the Caribbean. More attention also needs to be paid to youth SRHR in conflict and humanitarian settings, such as Gaza, Palestine, where Palestinians are experiencing numerous violations of their SRHR, due to the genocide caused by Israel.
• Youth and abortion: Recent research on young people and abortion is very limited, particularly at regional or global levels. More research on young people and abortion is needed, particularly in regions such as Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia-Pacific.
• Youth SRHR and telehealth interventions: Telehealth interventions show potential as effective intervention strategies, improving condom use and STI screening and testing among adolescents, and could be valuable alternatives to in-person visits for accessing SRH information or services. More research is needed on telehealth interventions targeting adolescents and young people from Global Majority regions, to better test telehealth strategies for improving young people’s access to SRH information and services.
• Youth SRHR and the climate crisis: The global climate crisis is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. While there is some research regarding the nexus between climate change, gender equality, and SRHR more broadly, we need further research on the interlinks between climate change and youth SRHR specifically.