Adolescent girls' access to sexual and reproductive health services and exposure to STIs/STDs in vulnerable areas of the Gbêkê health region

Abstract

In Côte d'Ivoire, the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of adolescent girls are a neglected issue in research, given the lack of existing scientific work on the subject and the absence of targeted actions for this specific population, particularly in underserved areas. This research, which focuses on a vulnerable and at-risk population, was conducted in the Gbêkê health region, specifically in areas of vulnerability. It provides a socio-anthropological assessment of the situation of adolescent girls living in vulnerable or disadvantaged areas in terms of SRHR in the Gbêkê health region and determines the implications for them. Qualitative and quantitative in nature, it is based on a data set comprising 48 interviews (6 focus groups and 42 semi-structured interviews) and 337 questionnaires administered. This integrated dataset enables an in-depth analysis of the situation of adolescent girls. The results show that, in these study areas, access to sexual and reproductive health services (SRHS) is very limited, due to a combination of environmental, socio-cultural, economic, structural and geographical factors, among others. These results demonstrate the value of a systemic approach that brings together different stakeholders in the implementation of policies for the education and empowerment of adolescent girls. Such an approach will enhance adolescent girls' access to SRHR, with positive repercussions on their lives in the medium and long term, in terms of social, economic, health, and educational outcomes, as well as on the overall health environment.