Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health is a national priority. However, related interventions are often mischaracterized as encouraging sexual activity among children. This is not the case; abstinence can be encouraged while teens are simultaneously educated on the risks of unprotected sexual activity, their right to bodily autonomy, and HIV prevention and treatment. This has been an endeavour to which Imbuto Foundation and its strong partners have committed for over a decade. Some accomplishments have been secured, however, a few challenges also remain. Here are 5 lessons we have learned by addressing ASRH challenges nationwide.

1. A High Number Of Adolescents Are Sexually Active

It is difficult for parents to consider the likelihood that their teenage child might be sexually active. However, almost a third of teenagers are sexually active before the age of 18. Therefore, it is important to be willing to engage in challenging conversations with adolescents before adulthood. These talks involve information on the risks of sexually transmitted diseases as well as unwanted, teenage pregnancy.

2. A Considerable Number of Youth Have Limited Information on HIV and HIV Transmission

Only around 60% of adolescents are informed about how HIV is transmitted, as well as its risks. These statistics are alarming and suggest that almost half of Rwandan adolescents may engage in activities that increase their exposure to HIV, due to a lack of awareness of the risks they are facing. For this reason, Imbuto Foundation has created 300 ASRH clubs, including 107 in schools. These clubs, among other aims, foster a peer-education among adolescents and youth on ASRH, to ensure that they have the right information package and prevent them from being exposed to dangers because of limited knowledge.

3. There Has Been A Recent Rise in HIV Transmission, Specifically Among Youth

An alarming trend has been noted in the past few years, pointing to an increase in HIV transmission among youth, including adolescents. This is likely due to the decreased momentum of global efforts against HIV transmission and the increased efficiency of antiretroviral medication, which treats HIV. It appears that the youth is, essentially, “less worried” about encountering the disease, and that they are hearing less about its risks than they should. However, HIV remains a global health issue that Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health advocates must keep addressing, in Rwanda and beyond.

4. Pregnant Teens Can Also Be Victims of Abuse

Teen pregnancy must be combatted, but its stigma must nevertheless be reduced. Stigma prevents many pregnant teens from coming forward about their pregnancy, let alone the abuse it may have resulted from. Assault or consent given under duress or coercion remains prevalent across the world, including in Rwanda. Rwanda has its own history of widespread HIV transmission as the result of rape, as the latter has been used as a weapon of war before and during the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi. Imbuto Foundation has made it a personal mission to guide victims of abuse encountered during our interventions towards the protective hand of justice and psychosocial support, for instance through Isange One Stop Centers.

5. School Retention Requires Informed Children

Teen pregnancy is a widely understated cause of school “drop-out” among adolescents of both genders, but most specifically girls. Withholding adequate information on reproductive health renders girls more vulnerable to unwanted pregnancy, which often results in immediate social alienation. The suspicion of pregnancy alone can lead families to pull girls out of school for several reasons, including removing the pregnant teen from the often judgmental public eye. This significantly drops girls’ access to financial autonomy, increases the chances of stunting in their unborn child, and can have various other negative long-term effects.

6. Communication Between Parents and Children is Key

Engaging adolescents and youth in discussions about their reproductive health at the right time is life-saving. However, because of the historical consideration of such a topic as taboo, such conversations are limited among families, exposing adolescents to a multitude of false information, often generated by profiteers of such a knowledge gap to sexually abuse children. Through facilitating Parent-Adolescent Communication (PAC) forums, our ASRH programme learned the importance of communication in empowering adolescents and youth to make informed decisions about themselves, making them less vulnerable to misinformation. You can learn more about the PAC approach here.

ASRH services ought to be a right, for all adolescents. The benefits of informed children far outweigh the potential risks of ensuring they are informed about reproduction and assuring their bodily autonomy.

If you’d like to learn more about Imbuto Foundation’s ASRH services, contact us today.