Exemplars in Global Health, a program dedicated to studying countries that have achieved significant progress in global health, has launched a new research project focused on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR). The program aims to identify, understand, and disseminate best practices in order to help policy makers make evidence and data-informed decisions in this crucial area.
The Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Exemplars (ASHER) project will examine the exemplary progress made by six countries: Cameroon, Ghana, India, Malawi, Nepal, and Rwanda, in reducing adolescent pregnancies and advancing ASRHR. Despite global investments in improving ASRHR, progress in this field has been slow and uneven. In 2019 alone, over 20 million pregnancies were recorded among adolescents aged 15-19 in low- and middle-income countries, with nearly half of these pregnancies being unintended and 55% resulting in unsafe abortions.
The ASHER project will focus on analyzing the policies and programs implemented by the six Exemplar countries that have successfully contributed to positive ASRHR outcomes. By doing so, the project aims to highlight valuable lessons and best practices that can be applied both within these countries and in others facing similar challenges.
The Director General of Rwanda Biomedical Centre, Prof. Claude Muvunyi, emphasized the importance of prioritizing adolescent sexual and reproductive health, stating that comprehensive and youth-friendly services should be accessible to every young person in Rwanda. Through the ASHER project, Rwanda aims to strengthen its interventions by incorporating critical factors that have been shown to improve ASRHR, developing innovative programs, and engaging in strategic partnerships.
Given that the world is currently home to the largest cohort of adolescents in history, with an estimated 1.8 billion individuals aged 10 to 19, Exemplars in Global Health believes it is crucial to inform and enhance ASRHR policies. By focusing on empowering adolescents, they can continue to positively contribute to the well-being and development of their own communities, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Local research organizations within each country will lead the in-depth research, while the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) will conduct cross-country analysis. To ensure the relevance and effectiveness of the project, two youth advisors from each country will be involved in shaping the recommendations that emerge from the findings.
Foster Mafiala, a youth advisor from Malawi, expressed the significance of young people’s involvement in the research project. Mafiala believes that having a voice in defining the questions and exploring the factors that affect adolescents’ needs and challenges will lead to the creation of more responsive and equitable access to health services. The goal is to empower all young people, especially the most vulnerable, to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive health.
Principal Investigator Nyovani Madise from AFIDEP highlighted the importance of learning from those countries that have achieved exemplary progress in ASRHR. The consortium of researchers aims to generate rigorous and objective analysis of the factors that have contributed to the success observed in the six Exemplar countries. By equipping policy makers with the necessary tools, the project aims to improve the well-being of all young people.
The ASHER project represents a significant step forward in addressing the challenges of adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights. Through its comprehensive and research-based approach, the program endeavors to provide valuable insights and recommendations that can inform policies and interventions in order to improve the lives of adolescents globally.
