There are some 1.3 billion adolescents (10-19 years) who make up about 16% of the world’s population while nearly 90% of them live in low and middle-income countries. The Sustainable Development Goal and the Universal Health Coverage agenda underscored the importance of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) including contraception, maternal and newborn health, and HIV/AIDS for adolescents and young adults. Globally, notable progress on SRHR has been made, however, these gains are inequitable mostly because of harmful social norms, toxic gender stereotypes, and acute power imbalances in most low-income countries, especially for female adolescents.
In low-income countries, poor infrastructure, poverty among women, and increased levels of violence against women, particularly the genital mutilation of women, have significantly impeded the access of women and adolescents to SRH services. Two of the leading causes of death for adolescents in low-income settings are maternal mortality, and HIV/AIDS, issues that are preventable with adequate treatment and care. Child marriage remains highly prevalent today, in the low-income countries in Africa and Asia nearly 37% of girls are married before age 18, and 10% of girls are married before age 15. Every year, an estimated 21 million girls aged 15–19 years living in low-income countries become pregnant and approximately 12 million of them give birth. In addition, some 3.9 million unsafe abortions among adolescent girls occur each year, contributing to maternal mortality, morbidity, and lasting health problems. Pregnancy during adolescence is associated with a higher risk of health problems like anemia, sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortion, postpartum hemorrhage, and mental disorders including depression.
A huge number of adolescents and young adults living in conflict and refugee centers are at higher risk of sexual violence, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal death. COVID-19 crisis, profound lockdowns, and the diversion of medical resources have adversely affected adolescent SRH outcomes placing significant barriers to accessing necessary information and services, especially in low-income settings.
This Research Topic will focus on a variety of adolescent SRH issues in low-income settings of the world. We welcome submissions of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, policy analyses, and case studies on the following topics related to adolescent sexual and reproductive health including, but not limited to:
- Child marriage, contraception, unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion
- STI/ HIV/AIDS including HPV vaccine coverages
- Gender-based violence, sex trafficking, and exploitation
- Mental health/trauma/displacement/refugee
- Poor menstrual hygiene practices, menstrual problems, and other gynecological illnesses
- Reproductive and sexual health of adolescents in refugee settlements in Asia and Africa
- Adolescent-friendly health services, information, and communication
- Adolescent sexual and reproductive health policies, governance, and resources
There are some 1.3 billion adolescents (10-19 years) who make up about 16% of the world’s population while nearly 90% of them live in low and middle-income countries. The Sustainable Development Goal and the Universal Health Coverage agenda underscored the importance of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) including contraception, maternal and newborn health, and HIV/AIDS for adolescents and young adults. Globally, notable progress on SRHR has been made, however, these gains are inequitable mostly because of harmful social norms, toxic gender stereotypes, and acute power imbalances in most low-income countries, especially for female adolescents.
In low-income countries, poor infrastructure, poverty among women, and increased levels of violence against women, particularly the genital mutilation of women, have significantly impeded the access of women and adolescents to SRH services. Two of the leading causes of death for adolescents in low-income settings are maternal mortality, and HIV/AIDS, issues that are preventable with adequate treatment and care. Child marriage remains highly prevalent today, in the low-income countries in Africa and Asia nearly 37% of girls are married before age 18, and 10% of girls are married before age 15. Every year, an estimated 21 million girls aged 15–19 years living in low-income countries become pregnant and approximately 12 million of them give birth. In addition, some 3.9 million unsafe abortions among adolescent girls occur each year, contributing to maternal mortality, morbidity, and lasting health problems. Pregnancy during adolescence is associated with a higher risk of health problems like anemia, sexually transmitted infections, unsafe abortion, postpartum hemorrhage, and mental disorders including depression.
A huge number of adolescents and young adults living in conflict and refugee centers are at higher risk of sexual violence, HIV, and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal death. COVID-19 crisis, profound lockdowns, and the diversion of medical resources have adversely affected adolescent SRH outcomes placing significant barriers to accessing necessary information and services, especially in low-income settings.
This Research Topic will focus on a variety of adolescent SRH issues in low-income settings of the world. We welcome submissions of original research articles, comprehensive reviews, policy analyses, and case studies on the following topics related to adolescent sexual and reproductive health including, but not limited to:
- Child marriage, contraception, unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion
- STI/ HIV/AIDS including HPV vaccine coverages
- Gender-based violence, sex trafficking, and exploitation
- Mental health/trauma/displacement/refugee
- Poor menstrual hygiene practices, menstrual problems, and other gynecological illnesses
- Reproductive and sexual health of adolescents in refugee settlements in Asia and Africa
- Adolescent-friendly health services, information, and communication
- Adolescent sexual and reproductive health policies, governance, and resources
