Worrying Facts about South Sudan youth Sexual and reproductive Health.

FACTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT YOUTHS IN SOUTH SUDAN

Youths/adolescents are important segments of the population. They need special attention and services with respect to sexual and reproductive health. Lack of information on RH on one hand and absence of youth friend RH services in the health facilities on other hand combined with social and biological factors are contributing factors to high risk behaviors among young people. According to the South Sudan House Health Survey (SSHHS) 2010 the proportion of girls who had sex before age 15 is 10.3%, with lower rates in rural areas (9.5%) compared to 12.6% in urban areas. Young men are more likely to engage in early sexual debut than women. 23.3% of young women have sex before age 15 compared to 29% for Males. Among young people aged 15-19, 6.8% of females and 27% of males reported sexual intercourse with more than one partner. The 2010 SSHHS suggest high and unprotected sexual activities among young people with multiple partners; of those having sex with multiple partners, only 5 percent reported condom use. It is also reported 81% of youth in South Sudan are not aware of any contraceptive methods with female youth at an even lower awareness than their male peers. Condom use among the sexually active youth is relatively low with only 24% in-school Youth reporting ever using condoms, of whom 16% reported condom use at first sexual intercourse. Among the Out-of-School Youth (OSY) group, 27% reported using a condom during the first sex act, with a slightly higher proportion (36%) reporting they had ever used condom.

Family planning is very controversial in Southern Sudan generating political, social, cultural and human-rights debate. Uptake of FP in the country is very low rising minimally from less than 1% in 2004 to 4% in 2010, the second lowest rate in the world. The average Unmet need for FP in Southern Sudan is about 1.37% Of all women demanding contraception, only 28% of them are satisfied or have received the needed service. Abortion is one of the worrying obstetric problems affecting young people most being reported as spontaneous or first trimester abortions. Averagely 3 to 5 cases of abortions are managed in most facilities, every day. Teenage pregnancies are extremely high and increasing by the year; Most of the health facilities offering antenatal services, record large numbers of teenage mothers. Teenage pregnancies among 15-19 year olds [per 1000 in age group]-was 204 in 2006 and increased to 300 in 2010 and remained at300 per 1,000 in 2012 due to among other reasons early marriage. 45% of girls entered union before the age of 18 in 2010, 40% in the 2008 and 41% in 2006. Young girls do not have a say in when they will marry or to whom. High teenage birth rate is also attributed to the absence of reproductive health programmes targeted at youth. This a great concern given that over half (55%) of the population is under the age of 20 which may lead to many cases of unwanted pregnancies related complications certainly maternal death. About 28 percent of women aged 20-24 have had a live birth before their 18th birthday. STIs are major problem for the youth with about 10% of the population having ever experienced symptoms of STIs. Youth in south Sudan have little understanding of STIs; only 38% have adequate knowledge of STIs. Antenatal surveillance and other reports show an extremely high rate of positive tests for syphilis in both males and females ranging from 9.2% in the under 19 group to 12.2% in both the 25-29 and 35-39 age groups. The 2012 South Sudan Antenatal Clinic Sentinel Surveillance for HIV and Syphilis estimates HIV prevalence at 2.6% Other studies suggest 3.1% and 3.04%. HIV prevalence is higher in females than in men at a ratio of 1:2 (male to female). Among those aged 15–24, HIV/AIDS prevalence was more than twice as high for females (1.3%) compared to males (0.5%). When disaggregated by age HIV Prevalence of 15-24 year old ANC respondents for ANC respondents was 2.3% for Female aged 15-19 slightly lower than those females aged 20-24 (3.3%).

As Impact Health Organization we would like a start what we referred to as IHO youth Information and Health Centre (YIHC) The IHO youth Information and Health Centre (YIHC) shall pioneer program in providing youth friendly Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH) services in South Sudan.

OUR GOAL

Increased understanding of Sexual Reproductive Health Rights and access to appropriate youth-friendly services for young people.

VISION

Young people are empowered in adolescent sexual reproductive health and their rights.

MISSION

To advocate for and promote access to quality Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Services and information to young people

However we are still lacking resources and any one who is interested can contact us to help south Sudan have a healthier population because if we fail the youths we fail the nation.

For more information

Contact Impact Health Organization (IHO)

Tel: 0928082382

Email: ihosouthsudan@gmail.com or info@ihonet.org

Website: www.ihonet.org