Title: Reproductive Health Among Adolescents and Youth in Pakistan: The Evidence and the Challenges Dr' Zeb
1Reproductive Health Among Adolescents and
Youth in PakistanThe Evidence and the
ChallengesDr. Zeba A. Sathar
(Tamgha-i-Imtiaz)Country Director Population
Council, Islamabad
2Why are Adolescents so important?
- The largest proportion of Pakistanis are
adolescents and youth - They represent the future both in terms of
demography but also development - They tend to get neglected in policies and
programs which focus on married women or young
children
3Population Projections with Slow and Rapid
Decline in Fertility
Slow
Rapid
Continued..
4(No Transcript)
5National survey
- Theme
- Transitions to adulthood social context,
education, work, and marriage among 15 to 24 year
olds - Objective
- To establish a base of knowledge to facilitate
national debate, action, and research on
adolescents and youth
6Sampling sites(October 2001March 2002)
Rural
Urban
7Framework for studying adolescents
Opportunities Schools/colleges Jobs Training
centers Health facilities Leisure
opportunities Information Constraints Community
attitudes Poverty Social sanctions
Antecedents Gender Household economic
status Region Parents characteristics
Outcomes Education Work Marriage Childbearing
8Schooling of young people(15-24 years old)
9Work status
10Prior knowledge of puberty(15-24 years old)
11Demand for information on Puberty (15-24 years
old)
12Source of information about puberty (15-24 years
old pubescent)
13Source of discussion on sensitive health
problems (15-24 years old)
Ever Married
14Source of discussion on sensitive health
problems (15-24 years old)
Never Married
15Sources of information/ discussion
YOUNG MALES
YOUNG FEMALES
- Most would talk to their FATHERS for education,
work, and marriage - For sensitive health issues majority would
consult a DOCTOR/HAKEEMS - FRIENDS are main and favorite source for Puberty
information
- MOTHERS are the center point of all discussions
on work, education, marriage - Information about sensitive health (RH) is
received from MOTHERS - Married girls rely on their SPOUSES for almost
all kinds of information
16Proportions married(20-24 men and women)
Source Durrant 2000
17Transition to puberty, marriage and childbearing
18Married and pregnant before 20(Women aged 20-24)
19Antenatal care received by females for first birth
20Desired number of children, boys, and girls, by
sex and marital status, among 20-24 year olds
21Contraceptive useamong married women aged 20-24
22Conclusions
- Puberty
- Majority of young girls informed by mothers about
puberty - Friends first source of information on puberty
for boys - Schooling and socio-economic class not
co-related with prior information on puberty - General and Reproductive Health
- Most married girls consult husbands for health
problems - Boys consult doctors
- Unmarried girls most neglected group
23Recommendations
- Youth programs and plans in RH must tackle
diversity - Prioritize young women and poor youth
- Target parents and schools and teachers to
improve heath communication - Peer group networks best way to reach boys
- Young husbands and wives need counseling on
delaying first birth
24Remember the big picture!
- Investments in youth and adolescents have
tremendous pay offs in terms of development,
fertility transition, HIV AIDs etc. - These investments have to be multiplied to
several fold their current levels, given the
numbers - Ensure integration of programs for youth
- If this opportunity is overlooked-dire
consequences to follow