What are Sexual and Reproductive Health Services?
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Youth
Staying healthy is important no matter what your age. Lots of things contribute to health, like eating nutritious foods, being physically active, and getting enough sleep. Accessing health care is also important to staying healthy—definitely when you’re feeling sick and even when you’re not but just want to stay healthy and prevent illness. Health care includes sexual and reproductive health services that are confidential, responsive to your needs, and provided without judgement or discrimination. The types of sexual and reproductive health services that are available to young people in East and Southern Africa depend on the facility you visit. Laws at the country level vary, too, in terms of what services young people can access on their own or with a parent or guardian.
Generally, sexual and reproductive health services include the following:
- Advice on puberty concerns and help with menstrual hygiene
- Education and counselling on sexual and reproductive health and sexuality
- Information about contraception and pregnancy testing and counselling
- Antenatal, delivery, and post-natal care
- Safe abortion, where legal , and post abortion care
- Information, testing, counselling and treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- HIV education, counseling, testing and referral for treatment, care and support and pre and post exposure prophylaxis,
- Medical male circumcision
- Screening for cervical cancer (Pap smear)
- Immunizations, including for human papillomavirus
- Information about sexual violence and abuse, counseling and referrals for services and legal assistance
- Post-rape counseling and treatment, including emergency contraception, STI treatment, and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV
Some services that are available in East and Southern Africa are considered “youth-friendly services.” Youth friendly-services are health care services that meet the needs of young people between the ages of 10-24, with staff who are specially trained to serve young people.
UNFPA Youth Friendly Health Services
Parents
Staying healthy is important no matter what your age, including for adolescents. Lots of things contribute to health, such as eating nutritious foods, being physically active, and getting enough sleep. Accessing health care is also important for adolescents to stay healthy—both to treat illness but also to stay well. Health care for adolescents includes sexual and reproductive health services that are confidential, responsive to their needs, and provided without judgement or discrimination. The types of sexual and reproductive health services that are available to young people in East and Southern Africa depend on the facility. Laws at the country level vary, too, in terms of what services young people can access on their own or with a parent or guardian.
Generally, sexual and reproductive health services include the following:
- Advice on puberty concerns and help with menstrual hygiene
- Education and counselling on sexual and reproductive health and sexuality
- Information about contraception and pregnancy testing and counselling
- Antenatal, delivery, and post-natal care
- Safe abortion, where legal , and post abortion care
- Information, testing, counselling and treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- HIV education, counseling, testing and referral for treatment, care and support and pre and post exposure prophylaxis,
- Medical male circumcision
- Screening for cervical cancer (Pap smear)
- Immunizations, including for human papillomavirus
- Information about sexual violence and abuse, counseling and referrals for services and legal assistance
- Post-rape counseling and treatment, including emergency contraception, STI treatment, and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV
Some services that are available in East and Southern Africa are considered “youth-friendly services.” Youth friendly-services are health care services that meet the needs of young people between the ages of 10-24, with staff who are specially trained to serve young people.
As a parent or guardian, it’s important to encourage adolescents to seek health care, know where to access services, and to accompany them if they would like you to or if required by law.
Educators
Staying healthy is important no matter what your age, including for adolescents. Lots of things contribute to health, such as eating nutritious foods, being physically active, and getting enough sleep. Accessing health care is also important for adolescents to stay healthy—both to treat illness but also to stay well. Health care for adolescents includes sexual and reproductive health services that are confidential, responsive to their needs, and provided without judgement or discrimination. The types of sexual and reproductive health services that are available to young people in East and Southern Africa depend on the facility. Laws at the country level vary, too, in terms of what services young people can access on their own or with a parent or guardian.
Generally, sexual and reproductive health services include the following:
- Advice on puberty concerns and help with menstrual hygiene
- Education and counselling on sexual and reproductive health and sexuality
- Information about contraception and pregnancy testing and counselling
- Antenatal, delivery, and post-natal care
- Safe abortion, where legal , and post abortion care
- Information, testing, counselling and treatment for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
- HIV education, counseling, testing and referral for treatment, care and support and pre and post exposure prophylaxis,
- Medical male circumcision
- Screening for cervical cancer (Pap smear)
- Immunizations, including for human papillomavirus
- Information about sexual violence and abuse, counseling and referrals for services and legal assistance
- Post-rape counseling and treatment, including emergency contraception, STI treatment, and post-exposure prophylaxis for HIV
Some services that are available in East and Southern Africa are considered “youth-friendly services.” Youth friendly-services are health care services that meet the needs of young people between the ages of 10-24, with staff who are specially trained to serve young people.
As a teacher, especially if you’re teaching sexuality education, it’s important to provide students with information about where and how to access sexual and reproductive health services. This can often be integrated into lesson plans on comprehensive sexuality education topics. Clinic staff can also be invited to present in class and visits to clinics can be incorporated into lessons to familiarize students with the services provided and clinic staff.
International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education
Sexual and Reproductive Anatomy and Physiology
Puberty