Adolescent and Youth Health

For millions of young people around the world, the onset of adolescence brings not only changes to their bodies but also new vulnerabilities to human rights abuses. Many girls are forced into unwanted sex, early marriage, female genital mutilation, and cultural practices that put them at risk of unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV, and dangerous childbirth.

In Kenya, the majority of new HIV infections are among young people. Similarly, about one-fifth of girls below 19 years have begun childbirth. Our programs aim to provide evidence to guide understanding of sexual and reproductive health issues for adolescents and young people, including unintended pregnancy drivers and HIV vulnerabilities. We also strive, where possible, to scale up evidence-based SRH approaches to improve outcomes.