CIE ADOLESCENT SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
The Problem
Adolescent reproductive health is affected by pregnancy, abortion, STDs, sexual violence, and by the systems that limit access to information and clinical services. Reproductive health also is affected by nutrition, psychological well-being, and economic and gender inequities that can make it difficult to avoid forced, coerced, or commercial sex
The social and economic impact of a healthy and productive youth population is particularly important for developing countries, where young people ages 10 to 24 represent up to 30 percent of the population. Although youth is generally a healthy period of life, all too many young lives are lost or compromised due to reproductive health problems including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unwanted pregnancies (often culminating in obstetrical complications or unsafe abortion), and poor nutrition. Yet young people are usually less informed, less experienced, and less comfortable accessing reproductive health services than adults
