Adolescent, Sexual and Reproductive Health Program
ASRH is important because it has significant implications for the future health and well-being of young people. For example, unsafe sexual practices can lead to unintended pregnancy, STIs, and HIV/AIDS. Adolescent pregnancies are also associated with increased risks of maternal and infant mortality, as well as other adverse health outcomes.
To promote ASRH, comprehensive sexuality education is essential. This education should cover a wide range of topics, including human anatomy and physiology, contraception, STIs, healthy relationships, and gender and sexuality. The education should also be age-appropriate, culturally sensitive, and gender-sensitive.
Access to youth-friendly health services is also critical to promoting ASRH. These services should be confidential, non-judgmental, and respectful of young people’s autonomy. Services should include information and counseling on ASRH issues, as well as access to contraception, STI testing and treatment, and pregnancy testing and counseling.
In summary, promoting ASRH is crucial to ensuring the health and well-being of young people. This can be achieved through comprehensive sexuality education and youth-friendly health services that are respectful of young people’s autonomy and promote their physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Adolescents comprise 24% of Kenya’s population which has significant implications on the country’s health. The KDHS 2014, results showed a worrying trend in adolescent sexual and reproductive health indicators including high rates of HIV/AIDS infections. According to the National Aids Control Council, approximately 29% of all new HIV infections in Kenya are among young people and the adolescents. In age group 15 to 19 years, new HIV infections stands at 70% for women and 30% for men while in age group 20 to 24 years it stands at 62% for women and 38% for men. It is also estimated that 16% of all people living with HIV in Kenya are adolescents and young people and that 16% of all people in need of ART are adolescents and youth. Other health issues that the adolescents are faced with include unwanted sex or marriage, putting them at risk of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and dangerous childbirths.
Therefore, as Agape Child Support Organization (ACSO) great efforts need to be put in place to promote adolescent sexual and reproductive health, increase access to Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health information and age appropriate comprehensive sexuality education will contribute to reduction of STIs burden and appropriate response for infected adolescents as well as reduce early and unintended pregnancies.
Objectives
To equip the youth with information and skills useful in enabling them to make wise choices about their health and sexuality through: Promotion of Sexual Purity awareness sessions, Facilitating coaching of selected peer educators, and also through Promotion of church-led community dialogues with caregivers and opinion leaders for community action plans to address the Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and unhealthy addictions.
