dr. kanurpiya chaturvedi reproductive health of young adults part i dr kanurpiya chaturvedi

DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

Reproductive Health of Young Adults

PART I

DR KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI


Reproductive Health Issues of Young Adults

Topics to be covered

• Why focus on young adults

• Characteristics of young adults

• Reproductive health risks and consequences

• STI/HIV risks and consequences


Why Focus on the Reproductive Health of Young Adults

*1 of every 4 persons worldwide is between ages 10 and 24 years

* Youth are a great potential resource


Reproductive Health Risks and Consequences for Young Adults

Risks:• Unintended and too-

early pregnancy• STIs, including

HIV/AIDS• Unsafe abortion• Sexual violence and unwanted sexual activity

Consequences:

• Medical• Psychological• Social• Economic


About half of all new HIV infections are About half of all new HIV infections are among youthamong youth

• HIV/AIDS epidemic among youth remains largely invisible to adults

• Stopping HIV/AIDS requires working with youth in a comprehensive way

• Young women are several times more likely to get infected than young men

HIV/AIDS Risk for Youth


Factors Affecting the Reproductive Health Needs of Young Adults• Age

• Marital status

• Gender norms

• Sexual activity

• School status

• Childbearing status• Economic/social

status• Rural/urban • Peer pressure

• Political/cultural


Gender Affects the Reproductive Health of Youth

• Expectations of sexual activity of boys and girls• Views regarding responsibility for contraception• Social consequences of pregnancy• Degree of risk for HIV/AIDS infection• Cultural acceptance of harmful behaviors and

practices• Client-provider interactions

Gender involves roles and relationships that are Gender involves roles and relationships that are determined by society and culture. Gender affects:determined by society and culture. Gender affects:


Young Adults and Contraceptive Use

• Few married youth use contraceptives before first birth

• After becoming sexually active, unmarried youth delay use of contraceptives about a year

• Common reasons for non-use of contraceptives among unmarried youth:– did not expect to have sex– lacked information about contraception– lacked access to contraceptives


Limited Contraceptive Use: Characteristics of Youth

• Tend not to plan ahead or anticipate consequences

• Think they are not at risk• Feel invulnerable• Lack confidence or motivation to use• Embarrassed or not assertive• Lack power and skill to negotiate use• Social or cultural expectations or beliefs


Limited Contraceptive Use: Barriers to AccessLack of access to services or methods:• Clinics not designed to be inviting to youth• Providers reluctant to serve unmarried youth• Laws/policy may prohibit provision to unmarried

youth

Youth may:• Lack transportation to clinic or money for

contraceptives or services• Fear judgment or discovery• Be concerned about having pelvic exam


Psychological and Social Consequences of Pregnancy for Unmarried Youth• Social stigmas for unmarried mothers and children• Limited education• Fewer career or job opportunities• Heavy economic burden• Depression, loss of self-confidence and lack of

hope• Consequences more severe for young women

than men• Children of young parents may face psychological,

social and economic obstacles


Maternity CarePrenatal Care:

• To educate young women on proper pregnancy care and assess risk for complications

Delivery:

• To monitor for possible complications

Prenatal and postpartum:

• To provide information on contraception, breastfeeding, child-care skills and child health


Risk of Unsafe Abortion

Each year at least 2 million young women worldwide have unsafe abortions mainly due to:• Inaccessibility or costs of safe services• Self-induced methods• Unskilled or non-medical providers• Delay in seeking procedure past first 3

months of pregnancy

family planning can reduce unsafe abortionfamily planning can reduce unsafe abortion


Consequences of Unsafe Abortion3 out of 5 women seeking hospital care for unsafe 3 out of 5 women seeking hospital care for unsafe abortion complications in Africa, Asia and Latin America abortion complications in Africa, Asia and Latin America are under age 20are under age 20

Complications:Complications:InfectionInfectionHemorrhageHemorrhageInjury to reproductive organsInjury to reproductive organsIntestinal perforationsIntestinal perforationsToxic reactions to drugsToxic reactions to drugs

Can result in:Can result in:InfertilityInfertilityDeathDeathPsychological traumaPsychological traumaNegative social reactionsNegative social reactions


Youth at High Risk for STIs/HIV

HighHigh

STISTI

riskrisk

Primary factors are Primary factors are behavioral:behavioral:Non-use or incorrectNon-use or incorrect use of condomsuse of condomsLittle knowledge Little knowledge of STIsof STIsFailure to seek treatmentFailure to seek treatmentMultiple partners or Multiple partners or partners with multiple partners with multiple partnerspartners


Consequences of STIs, Including HIV

Curable STIs:Curable STIs:Mostly bacterialMostly bacterialCan lead to PIDCan lead to PID and infertilityand infertility Harmful medical,Harmful medical,

psychological, psychological, and socialand socialconsequencesconsequencesIncurable STIs:Incurable STIs:

ViralViralCan lead to chronic Can lead to chronic disease or death disease or death (HIV/AIDS)(HIV/AIDS)


Risks and Consequences of Sexual Abuse

Rape, sexual assault, involuntary prostitution

can result in:• Physical injury• Unintended pregnancy• STIs• Psychological trauma• Increased likelihood of high-risk sexual behavior


Summary and Next Steps

Young adults face high risks of pregnancy and STIs

Young adults need information, skills, Young adults need information, skills, and access to servicesand access to services

Policy-makers and providers need to Policy-makers and providers need to know how and where to reach youth, know how and where to reach youth, and what contraceptive and STI/HIV and what contraceptive and STI/HIV services are neededservices are needed


How to Reach Young Adults

• Topics to be coveredTopics to be covered• Who provides information and services to Who provides information and services to

young adultsyoung adults

• What reproductive health information is What reproductive health information is needed by young adultsneeded by young adults

• Where services for young adults are best Where services for young adults are best providedprovided


Youth Involvement Is Critical

• Involve perspective of target audience Involve perspective of target audience

• Work Work withwith youth, rather than youth, rather than forfor youth youth

• Draw on youth’s energy, hope, eagerness Draw on youth’s energy, hope, eagerness to learn and resilienceto learn and resilience

Youth “should be involved from Youth “should be involved from the start as full partners….”the start as full partners….”

World Health Organization, 2001World Health Organization, 2001

dr. kanurpiya chaturvedi reproductive health of young adults part i dr kanurpiya chaturvedi

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