Solthis Therapeutic Solidarity and Initiatives for Health

COTE D'IVOIREADVOCACY FOR FAIR ACCESS TO QUALTITY HEALTH CARECAPACITY BUILDINGCommunity mobilisation and health promotionSTRENGTHENING SYSTEMS AND HEALTH SERVICESPromoting Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Improving access to sexual and reproductive health rights for Ivorian youth and adolescents

Context

In Ivory Coast, where the median age is 19, young people’s access to sexual and reproductive health services is limited. This particularly affects young girls who are exposed to early and/or unwanted pregnancies (fertility rate of 124% for 15-19 year olds and 193% for 20-24 year olds), an over-representation of maternal mortality and morbidity, as well as gender-based violence (including female genital mutilation which affects more than a third of the adult female population and 11% of girls under 14). Women are also twice as affected as men by the HIV epidemic in Ivory Coast and the majority of new infections are among young girls.

However, knowledge of HIV prevention remains low, particularly among young people: only 20% of them have a real understanding of it and their use of condoms is still limited. The stakes are high considering that Ivory Coast is one of the countries most affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in West Africa, with a prevalence rate of 2.4%. In this context, the project makes it possible to capitalise on the partnership established with the association Espace Confiance to reach key populations, and to broaden Solthis’ action beyond the fight against HIV/AIDS to the wider issue of SRHR by integrating a differentiated approach.

Key information about the project

General objective

Empowerment and access to quality SRHR services and interventions adapted to the needs of adolescents and young people (A&Y), particularly those in vulnerable situations

Act on 3 action levers through a multi-channel approach:

• On demand: information and empowerment of A&Y, especially vulnerable A&J in Ivory Coast.
• supply: strengthening health structures to adapt their SRH services to A&Y, particularly those in vulnerable situations (public primary care centres and community centres).
• the enabling environment: communities, national authorities, civil society organisations…

Expected results

• The empowerment of A&Y, especially those in vulnerable situations, is strengthened
• Strengthening the DSSR service offer for quality care, adapted to the specific needs of A&Y
• The national environment is more favourable to A&Y DSSRs

Key results

Among others :

• 84.5% of participants improved their empowerment, including 84% of girls and 85% of boys
• 73% of adolescents and young people (AY) improved their knowledge of SRHR (Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights)
• 55% of young people showed an increase in self-efficacy (the ability to make appropriate health-related decisions)
• The proportion of young people who speak up regularly increased from 11% to 20%
• 48% of participants improved their critical consciousness
• 53% of participants improved their self-esteem
• The overall quality score of SRH services in health centers increased from 51.4% at the beginning of the project to 88.7% at the end
• The score for the “reception” category in health facilities rose from 70.5% to 94.2%
• The revision of the Penal Code, particularly Article 427 on abortion, was carried out to align with the provisions of the Maputo Protocol, although fetal malformation was not taken into account.

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