GAGE launches papers on adolescent reproductive health
GAGE launches papers on adolescent reproductive health Jordan Times
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Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) Programme Launches Policy Papers on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Jordan
Amman, Jordan – The Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) programme, in collaboration with the Higher Population Council (HPC) and ShareNet Jordan, held a meeting on Monday to launch two policy papers on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. The event was attended by various organizations, United Nations agencies, and governmental and non-governmental bodies.
Facilitating Reproductive Health Services for Adolescents
The policy papers, based on a longitudinal study involving 3000 adolescents across Jordan, emphasized the importance of implementing programs that provide reproductive health services to all adolescents. They also shed light on the challenges faced by adolescents in disadvantaged communities in Jordan, initiating a discussion on how to address these obstacles and develop responsive programs.
Gender Disparities in Access to Information
The study revealed that girls had greater access to information about puberty compared to boys, with 93% of girls having received information compared to 72% of boys. This difference can be attributed to the fact that mothers (43%) are more likely to discuss pubertal changes with their children, while fathers (9%) are less involved in these conversations.
Menstrual Health Challenges
The study also highlighted the impact of menstruation on the daily activities of more than half of the girls (56%), with almost half of them feeling embarrassed (39%) or afraid (14%) to ask family members to buy menstrual supplies. Additionally, 57% of adolescent girls reported having adequate menstrual management facilities at school, while the rest indicated a lack of sanitary facilities, privacy, and water.
Barriers Faced by Girls with Disabilities
Girls with disabilities reported facing the greatest challenges in accessing school facilities (44%) due to the lack of equipment for people with special needs and the absence of teaching assistants.
Early Marriage and Motherhood
The study revealed that 81% of girls who had married as children had already begun child-bearing, and that motherhood rates were higher among girls married in childhood compared to those married as adults (89%).
Attitudes Towards Spousal Violence
Worryingly, the study found that 75% of young men in the study agreed that wives owed their husbands complete obedience, indicating concerning attitudes towards spousal violence.
Efforts to Protect Adolescents and Achieve Sustainable Development Goals
During the opening session, Issa Masarweh, the Secretary-General of the Higher Population Council (HPC), highlighted the national efforts in creating a favorable policy and program environment to protect adolescents and reduce their exposure to dangers. These efforts include integrating health education into the regular school curriculum and strengthening the role of parents in enhancing dialogue with their children.
These issues are critical in advancing progress towards Jordan’s commitment to the international Sustainable Development Goals 2030, as well as the goals outlined in the National Population Strategy 2021-2030 and the Reproductive and Sexual Health Strategy 2020-2030.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
-
SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
- Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs.
- Indicator: The article emphasizes the need for programs providing reproductive health services to all adolescents, highlighting the challenges faced by disadvantaged communities in Jordan and discussing how to address these obstacles.
-
SDG 4: Quality Education
- Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.
- Indicator: The article mentions the need for health education to be included in the regular school curriculum to support the protection of adolescents and reduce the dangers they are exposed to.
-
SDG 5: Gender Equality
- Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere.
- Indicator: The article highlights gender disparities in access to information about puberty, with girls having greater access than boys primarily because mothers tend to talk to their children about pubertal changes more than fathers do.
- Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
- Indicator: The article mentions worrying attitudes regarding spousal violence among young men, with 75% of them agreeing that wives owed their husbands complete obedience.
-
SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities
- Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status.
- Indicator: The article highlights the challenges faced by adolescents in disadvantaged communities in Jordan and discusses the need to address these obstacles and respond to them through programs.
SDGs, Targets, and Indicators
| SDGs | Targets | Indicators |
|---|---|---|
| SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being | Target 3.7: By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programs. | The article emphasizes the need for programs providing reproductive health services to all adolescents, highlighting the challenges faced by disadvantaged communities in Jordan and discussing how to address these obstacles. |
| SDG 4: Quality Education | Target 4.7: By 2030, ensure that all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development, including, among others, through education for sustainable development and sustainable lifestyles, human rights, gender equality, promotion of a culture of peace and non-violence, global citizenship, and appreciation of cultural diversity and of culture’s contribution to sustainable development. | The article mentions the need for health education to be included in the regular school curriculum to support the protection of adolescents and reduce the dangers they are exposed to. |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.1: End all forms of discrimination against all women and girls everywhere. | The article highlights gender disparities in access to information about puberty, with girls having greater access than boys primarily because mothers tend to talk to their children about pubertal changes more than fathers do. |
| SDG 5: Gender Equality | Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation. | The article mentions worrying attitudes regarding spousal violence among young men, with 75% of them agreeing that wives owed their husbands complete obedience. |
| Target 10.2: By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic or other status. | The article highlights the challenges faced by adolescents in disadvantaged communities in Jordan and discusses the need to address these obstacles and respond to them through programs. |
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Source: jordantimes.com
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