The Sexual and Reproductive Health of Young People in the Arab Countries and Iran

Datos Bibliográficos

ID3972853
AutoresJ Dejong (0000-0001-7262-9033, Yahoo (United Kingdom)), Rana Jawad (0000-0002-0747-1492, University of Sussex), Iman Mortagy, Bonnie Shepard
Año2005
Volumen13
Número25
Páginas49-59
Fecha de publicación2005-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaReproductive Health Matters (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0968-8080 • E-ISSN: 1460-9576
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1016/s0968-8080(05)25181-9
PMID16035597
OpenAlexW1990981836
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas43
Referencias citadas13

This article reviews the sexual and reproductive health situation of young people aged 10-24 in the Arab states and Iran, based on published and unpublished literature and interviews with 51 key informants working mostly in NGOs and international agencies in the region. There are few national government programmes addressing young people's sexual and reproductive health, with the exceptions of Tunisia and Iran, and a lack of population-based data to guide such programmes. Although the strong emphasis on the integrity and strength of the family unit has a protective effect, young people lack access to information. Education curricula that include these topics are rare and where they do exist, relevant sections are frequently skipped over by teachers, who are unprepared. Health service providers neither recognise the needs of this age group nor make young people welcome, particularly those who are unmarried. Increased education and employment mean the age at marriage is rising, but unprotected forms of marriage are also reported. Taboos surrounding discussion of sexuality remain a key constraint, and data on unwanted pregnancy and abortion, violence against women, and STIs/HIV/AIDS are limited. Building on NGO models and existing efforts, there is a need for the development of national programmes to support the well-being of young people in this region

Abortion · Business · Curriculum · Economic growth · Environmental health · Family planning · Human sexuality · Political science · Population · Pregnancy · Reproductive health · Reproductive rights · Service provider · Sociology · Unsafe abortion · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences · Gender Studies · Global Maternal and Child Health · Law · Medicine · Psychology