Young people

Over half of the world’s population is now under 25 years old, making up the largest group of young people in human history

Yet their sexual and reproductive health needs are often ignored.  Resources aren’t keeping pace with the growth of the world’s adolescent population. If young people lack knowledge about sex, reproductive health and relationships, then when they become sexually active they are highly vulnerable to pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and unwanted sex. Meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people is key to helping them fulfil their individual potential and make their contribution to the world.

Young people face many barriers to accessing services. They often cannot afford the fees, or may be worried that the services are not confidential or, they may need to get their parents consent. In some situations, services are only provided to those who are married. These barriers severely limit their access to contraception and condoms and lead to high rates of unintended pregnancy and HIV:

• every day, 6,000 young people become infected with HIV
• 14 million adolescent girls aged 15 to 19 become mothers every year
• Girls aged 15-20 are twice as likely to die in childbirth as those in their twenties
• complications during pregnancy or childbearing are the leading cause of death for girls aged 15-19 in developing countries

For teenage girls, early pregnancy often brings an end to their education.  Every year of education reduces the likelihood that a girl will bear a child in her teens or live in poverty. Sexual and reproductive health services for young people need to be appropriate, fully confidential, non judgemental, low cost, and designed with input from young people themselves.

Act now to protect their health and wellbeing and their future.  Help us to increase young people’s access to sexual reproductive health services and information.