Can a restrictive law serve a protective purpose? The impact of age-restrictive laws on young people's access to sexual and reproductive health services
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3972975 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Elizabeth Yarrow (0009-0008-4897-6818, Queen Elizabeth Hospital), Kirsten Anderson (Coram), Kara Apland (Institute for Legal Studies), Katherine Watson (0000-0001-5006-3171) |
| Year | 2014 |
| Volume | 22 |
| Issue | 44 |
| Pages | 148-156 |
| Publication date | 2014-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Reproductive Health Matters (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0968-8080 • E-ISSN: 1460-9576 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1016/s0968-8080(14)44809-2 |
| PMID | 25555772 |
| OpenAlex | W2009502992 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 8 |
This article explores the purpose, function and impact of legal restrictions imposed on children's and young people's involvement in sexual activity and their access to sexual and reproductive health services. Whilst there is no consensus on the age at which it is appropriate or acceptable for children and young people to start having sex, the existence of a minimum legal age for sexual consent is almost universal across national jurisdictions, and many states have imposed legal rules that place restrictions on children's and young people's independent access to health services, including sexual health services. The article draws on evidence and analysis from a recent study conducted by the International Planned Parenthood Federation in collaboration with the Coram Children's Legal Centre, UK, which involved a global mapping of laws in relation to sexual and reproductive rights, and exploratory qualitative research in the UK, El Salvador and Senegal amongst young people and health care providers. The article critically examines the social and cultural basis for these rules, arguing that the legal concept of child protection is often founded on gendered ideas about the appropriate boundaries of childhood knowledge and behaviour. It concludes that laws which restrict children's access to services may function to place children and young people at risk: denying them the ability to access essential information, advice and treatment
Environmental health · Political science · Population · Reproductive health · Reproductive rights · Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting Issues · Law · Medicine · Reproductive Health and Contraception · Reproductive Health and Technologies
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,4 |
| Citation span | 2016 - 2026 (11) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 4 |