Ouagadougou: The Pengdwendé association for the development of youth in Burkina Faso (APEPJ-BF) presented, on Friday, the results of the study on reproductive health (SR). Topics covered included menstruation management, consequences of abortion, early/unwanted pregnancies, contraception/family planning and STIs/HIV AIDS.
According to the APEPJ-BF coordinator, Timothée Sawadogo, the study on reproductive health (SR) focused on 498 adolescents and young people aged 11 to 30 from Kaya, 200 of whom were affected by individual surveys ( 100 girls) and 298 by 30 focus groups (162 girls).
According to him, the collection took place from May 10 to 27, 2024 in the seven sectors of Kaya, affecting seven Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) sites.
Themes covered include, among others, menstruation management, the consequences of abortion, early/unwanted pregnancies, contraception/family planning and STIs/HIV AIDS.
Concerning sexuality, the study shows that 33% of respondents are unaware of this topic, compared to 67%
who have already heard of it. Likewise, 82% of respondents believe they have the right to information about RH and understand why it is necessary to talk about it.
According to the APEPJ-BF coordinator, out of 200 respondents, 123 young people and adolescents do not know of places in their community where they can go to discuss sexuality.
Concerning the listening centers, the data shows that 69% of respondents do not know of their existence, compared to 31% who have the information.
Under the terms of the study, according to Mr. Sawadogo, the results are satisfactory, because the rate of physical execution of the surveys was 100%.
Listening to it, this study is part of the implementation of the project ‘Initiative of adolescents and young people for the promotion of SRH in the city of Kaya’.
Funded by Save The Children, this survey aimed to identify the factors favoring early pregnancies and the factors constraining or limiting access to sexual and reproductive health services.
Even if the results are c
onclusive, enormous challenges remain in terms of RH. ‘Many young people and adolescents are unaware of RH and we must redouble our efforts in terms of awareness,’ said the APEPJ-BF coordinator.
While thanking Save The Children, he called for the renewal of the project for good sexual and reproductive health of young people and adolescents.
According to Mr. Sawadogo, difficulties were encountered in mobilizing adolescents and young hosts and IDPs due to their instability, and students because the period of the survey coincided with that of end-of-year compositions and homework.
To improve their SSR, the respondents made suggestions which include strengthening awareness in schools, on PDI sites and at home, increasing the number of listening centers for young people, training young people and adolescents on RH, and advice and support to help young people manage their sexuality well, according to Timothée Sawadogo.
Source: Burkina Information Agency
