Promoting adolescent health

Unplanned pregnancies, sexually-transmitted diseases and mental illness are widespread among adolescents in rural Zimbabwe.  This jeopardises their health and prevents them from reaching their full potential.  The country therefore needs medical services that are better tailored to adolescents and greater awareness about sexuality and pregnancy.

Tailoring services to adolescents

Sexual and reproductive health services in healthcare facilities are not usually tailored to the needs of adolescents.  For example, there are often no quiet spaces where young people can ask questions, information on reproductive health is not geared to young people, and healthcare workers lack awareness of teenage pregnancy complications.  SolidarMed therefore trains staff and helps healthcare facilities design their offerings in a more adolescent-friendly way. This ensures that young people receive holistic medical care that comprises sexual and reproductive health, HIV, and mental health.
 

Talking about sex, contraception and HIV

In the rural and traditional regions of the Masvingo Province, talking about sexuality and reproductive health is often frowned upon. Adolescents usually get their information – if they get any – from distant relatives, and it is not always correct. There is a particular stigma attached to mental health and HIV and they are therefore not talked about. SolidarMed works to encourage parents and children, adolescents and their peers, and couples to talk more about sex, contraception and HIV.  This is the only way for adolescents to be empowered to embrace their own sexuality and to prevent negative consequences such as unwanted pregnancies.
 

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