Presentation by Dr Bassam Abu Hamad, Dr Nicola Jones, Prof Sarah Baird and Agnieszka Malachowska at the 4th IAAH MENA region Adolescent Health conference in Egypt
A presentation by Silvia Guglielmi at the Webinar on Adolescent Experiences in Chittagong and Sylhet: the support programme and COVID-19 impact.
Organisers: BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH), GAGE, IPA
A presentation by Jennifer Seager (George Washington University), Maheen Sultan (BRAC Institute of Governance and Development) at the Webinar on Adolescent Experiences in Chittagong and Sylhet: the support programme and COVID-19 impact
A presentation by Nicola Jones at the Global Webinar: Leave No Child Behind – The Way Forward for Education organised by Economic Policy Research Institute
A presentation by Sarah Baird to 'RECOVR Webinar Series, Covid-19 and Forced Displacement in the Global South, The Syrian Refugee Crisis: a View from Jordan', Innovations for Poverty Action, December 2020
Presentation by Dr Bassam Abu Hamad, Dr Nicola Jones, Prof Sarah Baird and Agnieszka Malachowska at the 4th IAAH MENA region Adolescent Health conference in Egypt
A presentation by Silvia Guglielmi at the Webinar on Adolescent Experiences in Chittagong and Sylhet: the support programme and COVID-19 impact.
Organisers: BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD), BRAC James P Grant School of Public Health (JPGSPH), GAGE, IPA
A presentation by Jennifer Seager (George Washington University), Maheen Sultan (BRAC Institute of Governance and Development) at the Webinar on Adolescent Experiences in Chittagong and Sylhet: the support programme and COVID-19 impact
A presentation by Nicola Jones at the Global Webinar: Leave No Child Behind – The Way Forward for Education organised by Economic Policy Research Institute
A presentation by Sarah Baird to 'RECOVR Webinar Series, Covid-19 and Forced Displacement in the Global South, The Syrian Refugee Crisis: a View from Jordan', Innovations for Poverty Action, December 2020
A presentation by Dr Nicola Jones, Course in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research, September 2020
Marriage and Divorce among Adolescents: Before and After COVID19, why we can'...Young Lives Oxford
For many young people, adolescence is a time when the world opens up as they choose their future paths. But for those living in the most marginalised families, their choices remain limited. Twelve million girls are still married under the age of 18 every year, and UN agencies warn of a doubling of this number due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This presentation was delivered on the 19th of May, as part of a webinar, organised by Young Lives, Child Frontiers, Girls not Brides and GreeneWorks, and included a presentation from WHO's Chandra Mouli.
The webinar brought together Girls Not Brides’ Agenda for Action in the face of COVID-19, new research from Young Lives and Child Frontiers on married, cohabiting and divorced adolescents, and GreeneWorks’ research on the pathways and obstacles to leaving child, early, and forced marriage.
Child marriage is a social issue of global concern as it hinders socio-economic development and make several sustainable development goals (SDGs) unachievable. It's a major issue in the tribal populated and backward districts of Odisha.
The cards also contain recommendations for inclusion of SRHR in the post-2015 development framework. The briefing cards were developed by partners in the Universal Access Project, which aims to bolster the U.S. government’s support for international reproductive health and family planning. However, the cards are not specific to a U.S. policy context so their content will be useful for a wide range of advocates as we move toward intergovernmental negotiations and continue to make the case with governments about the importance of ensuring the comprehensive inclusion of sexual and reproductive health and rights within the post-2015 development framework.
Prospects for ending child marriage in africa executive brief web-finalDr. Jack Onyisi Abebe
his executive brief is a synthesis of key findings and recommendations from a multi country analytical study by UN Women on child marriage in Africa covering ten countries selected due to their comparatively higher prevalence of child marriage in the continent and globally. The focus of the study was on the state and implementation of policies/legislation, interventions, cultural/religious practices in the countries in relation to the elimination of child marriage. A critical emphasis of the study was on the nexus between the existence and implementation of the policies/legislation, and the dominant cultural and religious practices that affect the outcomes of the interventions in those countries, especially in identified hotspot areas within the countries. The study was conducted in the period 2017/2018 and targeted DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria and Tanzania.
The study builds on the African Union’s (AU) Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa. The specific objectives of the study included: conducting an analytical review of existing customary practices and statutory policies on child marriage with the view of identifying drivers of success and gaps that are hampering success; assessing and mapping existing and ongoing child marriage community, national and regional initiatives and identifying the intervention gaps and; proposing programmatic interventions that could be adopted to reduce the high prevalence of child marriage in the targeted countries specifically and in Africa in general. The background, methodology and detailed findings and recommendations of the study are found from the overall report of the study- Multi-Country Analytical Study of Policies, Interventions and Cultural Practices on Child Marriage in Africa.
Family planning for Girls: The get it right checklist.Girl Effect
The FP2020 commitments were bold and ambitious. This checklist can help us all achieve them.
In summer 2012, donors, policy makers and implementing partners gathered at the London Summit on Family Planning. The outcome was FP2020 - a political and financial commitment to provide 120 million underserved girls and women with the opportunity to freely, reliably and safely use modern contraception by 2020. It was an ambitious goal. This checklist can help us all achieve it.
An overview of the health situation of youth today is provided in this chapter, which also explores the serious health challenges this vulnerable group is facing with the context of local and global developments. Socio-economic, cultural, educational and other factors affecting young people’s health are examined, and reference is made to particular issues and areas of concern. Emphasis is given to the importance of involving young people in identifying problems and developing solutions to ensure that programmes, policies and health services address their needs.
A presentation by Dr Nicola Jones, Course in Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health, Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research, September 2020
Marriage and Divorce among Adolescents: Before and After COVID19, why we can'...Young Lives Oxford
For many young people, adolescence is a time when the world opens up as they choose their future paths. But for those living in the most marginalised families, their choices remain limited. Twelve million girls are still married under the age of 18 every year, and UN agencies warn of a doubling of this number due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This presentation was delivered on the 19th of May, as part of a webinar, organised by Young Lives, Child Frontiers, Girls not Brides and GreeneWorks, and included a presentation from WHO's Chandra Mouli.
The webinar brought together Girls Not Brides’ Agenda for Action in the face of COVID-19, new research from Young Lives and Child Frontiers on married, cohabiting and divorced adolescents, and GreeneWorks’ research on the pathways and obstacles to leaving child, early, and forced marriage.
Child marriage is a social issue of global concern as it hinders socio-economic development and make several sustainable development goals (SDGs) unachievable. It's a major issue in the tribal populated and backward districts of Odisha.
The cards also contain recommendations for inclusion of SRHR in the post-2015 development framework. The briefing cards were developed by partners in the Universal Access Project, which aims to bolster the U.S. government’s support for international reproductive health and family planning. However, the cards are not specific to a U.S. policy context so their content will be useful for a wide range of advocates as we move toward intergovernmental negotiations and continue to make the case with governments about the importance of ensuring the comprehensive inclusion of sexual and reproductive health and rights within the post-2015 development framework.
Prospects for ending child marriage in africa executive brief web-finalDr. Jack Onyisi Abebe
his executive brief is a synthesis of key findings and recommendations from a multi country analytical study by UN Women on child marriage in Africa covering ten countries selected due to their comparatively higher prevalence of child marriage in the continent and globally. The focus of the study was on the state and implementation of policies/legislation, interventions, cultural/religious practices in the countries in relation to the elimination of child marriage. A critical emphasis of the study was on the nexus between the existence and implementation of the policies/legislation, and the dominant cultural and religious practices that affect the outcomes of the interventions in those countries, especially in identified hotspot areas within the countries. The study was conducted in the period 2017/2018 and targeted DRC, Egypt, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria and Tanzania.
The study builds on the African Union’s (AU) Campaign to End Child Marriage in Africa. The specific objectives of the study included: conducting an analytical review of existing customary practices and statutory policies on child marriage with the view of identifying drivers of success and gaps that are hampering success; assessing and mapping existing and ongoing child marriage community, national and regional initiatives and identifying the intervention gaps and; proposing programmatic interventions that could be adopted to reduce the high prevalence of child marriage in the targeted countries specifically and in Africa in general. The background, methodology and detailed findings and recommendations of the study are found from the overall report of the study- Multi-Country Analytical Study of Policies, Interventions and Cultural Practices on Child Marriage in Africa.
Family planning for Girls: The get it right checklist.Girl Effect
The FP2020 commitments were bold and ambitious. This checklist can help us all achieve them.
In summer 2012, donors, policy makers and implementing partners gathered at the London Summit on Family Planning. The outcome was FP2020 - a political and financial commitment to provide 120 million underserved girls and women with the opportunity to freely, reliably and safely use modern contraception by 2020. It was an ambitious goal. This checklist can help us all achieve it.
An overview of the health situation of youth today is provided in this chapter, which also explores the serious health challenges this vulnerable group is facing with the context of local and global developments. Socio-economic, cultural, educational and other factors affecting young people’s health are examined, and reference is made to particular issues and areas of concern. Emphasis is given to the importance of involving young people in identifying problems and developing solutions to ensure that programmes, policies and health services address their needs.
Fourteen years ago I was asked to prepare the following document. After it was completed, the contractor asked me to re-do it because they had made a mistake in the age they wanted covered. [They seemed to believe the information was too sensitive politically] and buried the report. I'm submitting it here now to learn what the LinkedIn audience thinks. Is it time to update it?
Professor Lanre Olaniyan: Family Planning, COVID-19 Pandemic and Progress Tow...NigeriaFamilyPlannin
This was presented at the guest lecture on the second day of the 6th Nigeria Family Planning Conference which happened in Abuja from December 7 - 11, 2020.
This study examined the relationship between knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention and HIV counselling and testing uptake among young people in Nigeria. The study is a quantitative research guided by one research question and one hypothesis. The target population comprised young people in Nigeria ages 15 to 24 years because the focus of this study was to identify the factors affecting HCT uptake among young people in this age cohort. The representative sample was obtained from the updated master sample frame of rural and urban zones developed by the National Population Commission in Nigeria. This master sample frame was a national survey that comprises all 36 states in Nigeria [2]. Probability sampling technique was used to obtain a sample of 10091 respondents (ages 15 to 24 years) for the study. The multistage cluster sampling was used to select suitable young people with known probability. Data were collected throughout Nigeria between September and December 2012 from 32,543 households (rural = 22,192; urban = 10,351) using structured and semi-structured questionnaires. The individual questionnaires asked about household characteristics, background characteristics of the respondents. Data were analyzed by inputing them into SPSS v21.0 for analysis [4] and then coded them for each participant. The data were summed using descriptive statistics. Frequencies and percentages; measures of central tendencies were used to answer the research question while nonparametric test such as chi-square was used to analyze non-normally distributed data at 0.5 level of significance. Results of data analysis indicated that the cognitive factors of knowledge of HIV prevention and knowledge of HIV transmission were statistically significant predictors of the likelihood of having HCT uptake. It was among others recommended that stakeholders, authorities, and providers of health services in Nigeria should strive to increase the rate of HCT uptake among young people ages 15 to 24 years.
‘Every year, 9.2 million young children (including 3.7 million newborns) and 536,000 mothers die during pregnancy and childbirth, while approximately 76 million unintended pregnancies occur worldwide. The need for strengthened family planning efforts is imperative if the MDGs are to be achieved
Research data from more than 50 countries confirm that there exist strong protective factors against health compromising behaviours in adolescents. This knowledge will help us to balance the traditional focus on risk factors and support the development of interventions that strengthen protective factors in adolescents themselves, in their relations with adults and their wider environment.
The document makes the case for concerted action on adolescent health, it explains CAH's "4S framework" to strengthen the response of the health sector to adolescents, CAH's systematic approach to scaling up health service provision to adolescents, and the rationale and objectives of CAH's work in focus countries.
It is intended for staff from other departments in WHO working on health issues of relevance to adolescents (e.g. reproductive health or mental health), staff in WHO's Regional and Country Offices, staff in other organizations supporting efforts or working themselves to improve the health of adolescents, and policy makers and programme managers in ministries of health.
HLEG thematic workshop on Measurement of Well Being and Development in Africa...StatsCommunications
HLEG thematic workshop on Measurement of Well Being and Development in Africa, 12-14 November 2015, Durban, South Africa, More information at: www.oecd.org/statistics/measuring-economic-social-progress
População e Desenvolvimento na Agenda do Cairo: balanço e desafiosAlice Junqueira
Texto para a Edição 13 da publicação Watchdog Youth Coalition (Abril de 2014)
[POR]
A Youth Coalition é uma organização internacional de jovens (de 18 a 29 anos) comprometida com a promoção dos direitos sexuais e reprodutivos de adolescentes e jovens nos níveis nacional, regional e internacional. Somos estudantes, pesquisadores, advogados, profissionais de saúde, educadores, agentes de desenvolvimento e, o mais importante, somos todos ativistas dedicados.
[ENG]
Youth Coalition is an international organization of young people (ages 18-29 years) committed to promoting adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive rights at the national, regional and international levels. We are students, researchers, lawyers, health care professionals, educators, development workers, and most importantly, we are all dedicated activists.
http://www.youthcoalition.org/
[[INOSR ES 11(2)134-147 Evaluation of the Infant Mortality rate at Ishaka Adv...PUBLISHERJOURNAL
Evaluation of the Infant Mortality rate at Ishaka Adventist Hospital Bushenyi District
Mugaaga Paul
Department of Clinical Medicine Kampala International University, Uganda.
________________________________________ABSTRACT
Infant mortality is defined as the death of an infant before his or her first birthday, mainly caused by dehydration, diseases, congenital malformations and infections. The main objective of this study was to establish the determinants of infant mortality in Ishaka Adventist Hospital (IAH) in the months of April- July 2017, in Ishaka municipality in Bushenyi district. A descriptive cross sectional study design was used to determine the determinants of infant mortality in the study area. Majority of respondent (98%) were female and among them, 25.5% reported to have lost at least an infant and most of these respondents (70%) were married while 5% were widowed and among these, 40% reported to have lost an infant. Religiously, majority of the respondents (80%) were Christians, while 13% were Muslim and 7% constituted other religions including paganism, which showed the greatest infant mortality rate (71.4%). Most of the respondents (65%) attained primary level of education while 5% did not go to school at all, and the highest infant mortality rate (40%) was reported among these. The respondents who reported to have had preterm births appeared to have a higher infant mortality rate (65%) than those who did not report preterm births. A higher infant mortality rate (32.2%) was realized among respondents who reported their infants to have had such co-morbidities than those who didn’t report any co-morbidities like malaria and also a higher infant mortality rate (50%) was realized among infants who had not exclusively breastfed. Majority of respondents (80%) did not have children with birth defects while only 20% had children with birth defect, and a higher infant mortality rate of 70% was realized among these. Demographically, infant mortality rate is high among teenagers, the unemployed, the widowed, the pagans, and the uneducated. Direct determinants of infant mortality rate included preterm birth, birth defects, comorbidities and failure to breastfeed exclusively. Proximate determinants associated with infant mortality rate included teenage pregnancies, source of water, means of delivery and irregular immunization. Exclusive breast feeding for 6 months, mass immunization campaign up to grass root, intensive health education on health seeking behaviors and highlighting on dangers associated with risky behaviors and high quality monitoring and evaluation for quick action particularly for emergencies. There is also need for intersectional collaboration and initiation of income generating activities to boost their standards of living.
Keywords: Infant mortality, Breastfeeding, Morbidity, Determinants, Respondents.
HARMFUL TRADITIONAL PRACTICES IN UGANDA PRESENTATIONThomas Owondo
Traditional cultural practices: They reflect values & beliefs held by members of a community for periods often spanning generations. Some are beneficial, some have neither benefits nor harms, and some are harmful to a specific group e.g. Female Genital Mutilation & child marriage.
Female genital mutilation (FGM): Any procedure that involves the partial or total removal of external genitalia or other injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.
Child marriage: Formal marriage or informal union before the age of 18 years.
Harmful traditional practices among adolescents are an important problem:
Over 200 million girls & women are estimated to be living with the effects of FGM which is predominantly performed on girls under the age of 18 years.
Every year, about 12 million girls are married before the age of 18.
Harmful traditional practices among adolescents can have serious health & social consequences:
FGM has no known health benefits,. It can cause immediate health consequences - hemorrhage, shock, infections & death & can cause long-term health & social consequences such as post-traumatic stress disorder & menstrual health problems. Women with type III FGM have an increased likelihood of experiencing problems during child birth. Babies born to children with FGM are at increased risk of neonatal complications.
Child marriage often leads to early childbearing in young girls which is associated with an increased risk of pregnancy-related mortality & morbidity and of increased risk of mortality and morbidity in babies born to a adolescent mothers. Child marriage is also associated with an increased risk of intimate partner violence. Finally, it has a negative effect on educational attainment.
Similar to Social determinants of adolescent health as reflected the SDG agenda (20)
Findings from the GAGE mixed-methods longitudinal study in Ethiopia on prevention strategies and girls' experiences of FGM/C, child marriage and adolescent motherhood, presented to the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Women and Social Affairs, Ethiopia.
The Development Studies Association 2022 Conference was hosted online by University College London on 6-8 July. The theme was ‘Just sustainable futures in an urbanising and mobile world’, with contributions exploring what justice and equity look like in a post-pandemic world affected by an escalating climate crisis.
Presentation by Dr Nicola Jones, Dr Bassam Abu Hamad, Prof Sarah Baird, Erin Oakley, Sarah Alheiwidi, Agnieszka Malachowska at the 4th IAAH MENA region Adolescent Health conference in Hurghada, Egypt
Presentation by Dr Bassam Abu Hamad, Dr Nicola Jones, Sally Youssef and Agnieszka Malachowska at the 4th IAAH MENA region Adolescent Health conference in Hurghada, Egypt
Understanding adolescent vulnerabilities in LMICs through an intersectional lens: launch of a new European Journal of Development Research Special Issue
Background and objectives
This event will showcase a new EJDR special issue that explores adolescent experiences across diverse LMICs, including conflict-affected contexts, drawing on unique mixed-methods data from the GAGE longitudinal study. It will highlight why an intersectional approach is critical to capture adolescents’ diverse and dynamic capabilities, and what the policy and programming implications are to ensure no adolescent is left behind.
A presentation by Dr Nicola Jones, Expert Workshop organised by UNU-Merit.
https://www.gage.odi.org/event/social-protection-in-the-context-of-forced-displacement-programming-promoting-young-peoples-resilience-in-general-and-during-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR1krlZWPD992qz1brdyKOK0-CskvbYxXaYdbAF5dG805xdw077RI6BYKuI
Up the Ratios Bylaws - a Comprehensive Process of Our Organizationuptheratios
Up the Ratios is a non-profit organization dedicated to bridging the gap in STEM education for underprivileged students by providing free, high-quality learning opportunities in robotics and other STEM fields. Our mission is to empower the next generation of innovators, thinkers, and problem-solvers by offering a range of educational programs that foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
At Up the Ratios, we believe that every student, regardless of their socio-economic background, should have access to the tools and knowledge needed to succeed in today's technology-driven world. To achieve this, we host a variety of free classes, workshops, summer camps, and live lectures tailored to students from underserved communities. Our programs are designed to be engaging and hands-on, allowing students to explore the exciting world of robotics and STEM through practical, real-world applications.
Our free classes cover fundamental concepts in robotics, coding, and engineering, providing students with a strong foundation in these critical areas. Through our interactive workshops, students can dive deeper into specific topics, working on projects that challenge them to apply what they've learned and think creatively. Our summer camps offer an immersive experience where students can collaborate on larger projects, develop their teamwork skills, and gain confidence in their abilities.
In addition to our local programs, Up the Ratios is committed to making a global impact. We take donations of new and gently used robotics parts, which we then distribute to students and educational institutions in other countries. These donations help ensure that young learners worldwide have the resources they need to explore and excel in STEM fields. By supporting education in this way, we aim to nurture a global community of future leaders and innovators.
Our live lectures feature guest speakers from various STEM disciplines, including engineers, scientists, and industry professionals who share their knowledge and experiences with our students. These lectures provide valuable insights into potential career paths and inspire students to pursue their passions in STEM.
Up the Ratios relies on the generosity of donors and volunteers to continue our work. Contributions of time, expertise, and financial support are crucial to sustaining our programs and expanding our reach. Whether you're an individual passionate about education, a professional in the STEM field, or a company looking to give back to the community, there are many ways to get involved and make a difference.
We are proud of the positive impact we've had on the lives of countless students, many of whom have gone on to pursue higher education and careers in STEM. By providing these young minds with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed, we are not only changing their futures but also contributing to the advancement of technology and innovation on a broader scale.
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Presentation by Jared Jageler, David Adler, Noelia Duchovny, and Evan Herrnstadt, analysts in CBO’s Microeconomic Studies and Health Analysis Divisions, at the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists Summer Conference.
What is the point of small housing associations.pptxPaul Smith
Given the small scale of housing associations and their relative high cost per home what is the point of them and how do we justify their continued existance
A process server is a authorized person for delivering legal documents, such as summons, complaints, subpoenas, and other court papers, to peoples involved in legal proceedings.
ZGB - The Role of Generative AI in Government transformation.pdfSaeed Al Dhaheri
This keynote was presented during the the 7th edition of the UAE Hackathon 2024. It highlights the role of AI and Generative AI in addressing government transformation to achieve zero government bureaucracy
Many ways to support street children.pptxSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
Social determinants of adolescent health as reflected the SDG agenda
1. Social determinants of
adolescent health as
reflected the SDG agenda
Dr. Nicola Jones
GAGE Programme Director
4th IAAH MENA REGION
Adolescent Health Conference
December 2021
2. Overview
The SDG framework,
premised on the goal to
leave no one behind,
centres the global
development agenda
around the world’s most
disadvantaged and
overlooked populations –
including adolescents.
To understand the challenges
faced by marginalised
populations, SDGs call for
robust and disaggregated
data that captures
inequalities faced by women,
girls & young people more
broadly, whose realities are
often masked by reporting.
GAGE has investigated
what we can learn about
adolescent and youth
well-being based on
available SDG data, and
the extent to which data
are usefully
disaggregated in order to
leave no one behind.
If adolescent girls and boys are not visible in data then they will also be absent in
policy priorities and so it’s key we leverage the potential of the SDGS to this end.
3. SRH, health and nutrition
Data series for
undernourishment (2.1.1)
food insecurity (2.1.2)
essential health service coverage (3.8.1)
access to drinking water (6.1.1) and
sanitation services (6.2.1)
draw from indices that report on whole populations that often account
for urban and rural divides but offer little insight into potential
disparities associated with adolescent age or sex.
4. Adolescent SRH
But adolescent birth rates are
collected for 15-19-year olds, only;
not for very young adolescents
Girls who become pregnant in
adolescence are at higher risk of a
wide variety of adverse health
outcomes for themselves and for
their children including preventable
causes of death
5. GAGE data find that the pandemic has exacerbated
health risks, particularly in the most vulnerable
communities.
In Jordan, GAGE data shows that access to
contraceptives was impeded in the initial months of
COVID-19, and adolescent pregnancies increased.
Across geographies, food insecurity increased –
particularly in contexts of displacement.
31% boys and 39% of girls living in ITS in Jordan
reported reduced dietary diversity during the pandemic.
Adolescents also reported eating fewer meals and more
food shortages.
SRH, health and nutrition in COVID-19: GAGE data
6. Bodily integrity & freedom from violence
SDG data from Jordan shows that
adolescent girls are at greater risk of IPV
than young women: 18% of girls aged
15-19 experienced IPV in last 12 months,
compared to 15% of 20-24 year-olds.
However, identifying country IPV trends
over time is difficult due to lack of
regularly collected and reported data.
7. Bodily integrity & freedom from child labour
We analyze child
labour data in this
domain, as specific
forms of child
labour present a
threat to
adolescent bodily
integrity
Lumping age bands in
child labour metrics is
not helpful
While Jordan reports on
children under 18 years,
Palestine and Tunisia
only report for under 14
years.
8. Protection from violence in COVID-19: GAGE data
Across contexts, many adolescents
reported increased tensions at home,
and greater risk of violence during
COVID-19
In Jordan, GAGE qualitative data highlights
that increases in intra-household conflict
during the pandemic were due to economic
downturn and male family members
spending more time at home.
9. Psychosocial well-being and social connectedness
There is a total absence of
adolescent psychosocial well-
being in the SDGs.
We use 16.2.1 as a proxy of a lack
of trusted adult support, i.e.
adolescents who experience
violent caregiver punishment
and/or psychological aggression.
92% of Palestinian children and
adolescents experience this
physical or psychological
aggression.
10. Voice, agency and community engagement
This domain centres on a young
person’s ability to
meaningfully and safely
participate in their household,
school and broader
community.
Again, there is very little in the
SDG framework.
We use SDG Indicator 5.4.1 on
time spent on unpaid domestic
and care work as a proxy.
Reporting on time use is very
sparse.
11. Conclusions and implications
1
• Bodily autonomy, integrity and freedom from violence
Focus data collection on specific age ranges to account for the variance in threats to bodily
integrity. Share good practice examples of indicators employed among stakeholders across the
region, including through the Arab Coalition on Adolescent Health network.
2
• SRH, health and nutrition
Strengthen data collection on access to health services and infrastructure to identify gaps
based on age &d sex. Provide guidance to Ministries of Health and Youth on appropriate
indicators and publish an annual league table to promote progress & accountability.
3
• Psychosocial well-being and connectedness, voice and agency
• Collect and report data more frequently and regularly on indicators for SDG targets 5.4
(unpaid care and domestic work), 16.2 (caregiver aggression) to establish observable trends
in countries/ regions over time.
• Complement this with efforts to promote data collection on adolescent girls’ psychosocial
wellbeing (SDG 3) and voice and agency in the family, classroom and community as indicators
of antecedents of women’s political empowerment (SDG 5.5).
Editor's Notes
Many thanks for the kind introduction
So as to set the stage for the rich discussions that we will be having together these next three days my presentation focuses on the extent to which adolescent health and wellbeing is reflected in the Sustainable Development Goal agenda.
We are now nearing the end of the 1st year of the so-called Decade of Action and as such it’s a critical moment to take stock of what progress has been made for young people aged 10-19 years, and what more needs to be done to enhance their prioritisation in policies and programmes.
The SDG framework, premised on the goal to leave no one behind, centres the global development agenda around the world’s most disadvantaged and overlooked populations – including adolescents.
To understand the challenges faced by marginalised populations, the SDGs call for robust and disaggregated data that capture inequalities faced by women, girls & young people more broadly, whose realities are often masked by reporting.
It is critical to highlight that while adolescents make up an estimated one seventh of the global population, only 18 of the 232 SDG indicators explicitly call for disaggregation by gender and adolescent- or youth-specific age categories, meaning that too little data has been accrued on girls’ and boys’ lives, thereby concealing their specific needs and vulnerabilities.
Bearing this in mind, GAGE has investigated what we can learn about adolescent and youth well-being based on available SDG data, and where key gaps are that require complementary data collection efforts in order to strengthen policy and programme agendas so that no young person is left behind.
In this presentation I’m going to focus in on our findings about SDG targets relevant to adolescent health and related social determinants, and where possible draw on examples from countries in the Arab world including primary research findings from phone surveys that we conducted with approximately 4000 adolescents in Jordan and Palestine during the covid-19 pandemic.
So let us begin with SDG goals related to nutrition and food security, physical health and wellbeing and access to clean water and sanitation.
It is important to highlight that the data series for goals 2, 3 and 6 draw from indices that report on whole populations that often account for urban and rural divides, but offer little insight into potential disparities associated with adolescent age or sex.
These gaps constitute limitations in the effort to achieve equitable health outcomes, especially given that adolescent girls in particular are frequently distinctly disadvantaged when it comes to accessing health and sanitation services.
So if we look at Indicator 3.7.2 which measures the prevalence of adolescent mothers, the SDGs are providing an important window on to the risk of adolescent birth rates for 15-19 year olds. This is vital as it makes visible this highly vulnerable group who at higher risk of a wide variety of adverse health outcomes for themselves and their children, as well as risks of school drop out and truncated economic opportunities esp. given that 90% of births among adolescents take place within the context of marriage.
What it omits however is the risk of adolescent births among very young adolescents – i.e. those aged 10-14 years who are the most vulnerable. Yet UNFPA estimates that 1 in 25 girls are married in the Arab World before their 15th birthday.
With the Covid-19 pandemic adolescent health and nutrition risks have been exacerbated, putting SDG targets further in jeopardy. Findings from research that GAGE has undertaken in Jordan with adolescents in 2020 with support from WHO EMRO underscore that the most disadvantaged young people have been particularly affected.
Access to contraceptives for married girls was impeded in the initial months of Covid-19 in Jordan in both host communities and refugee camps due to lockdowns and service closures, and adolescent pregnancies increased.
Similarly, in terms of nutrition, adolescent experiences of food insecurity increased, especially for highly vulnerable Syrian refugees living in informal tented settlements and particularly for girls, 39% of whom reported reduced dietary diversity and eating fewer meals.
Turning now to SDG 5 on gender equality, this goal emphasises the protection of adolescents from physical and sex- and gender-based violence, including child marriage, harmful traditional practices, and other forms of coercion – vulnerabilities that are often magnified for adolescents in the second decade of life – and impact their health and well-being.
If we look at SDG indicator 5.2.1 on intimate partner violence we can see that adolescent girls are often especially at risk due to the lack of power that many adolescent girls face in contexts where social norms allow for child marriage.
In Jordan, national data shows that adolescent girls are at greater risk of IPV than women aged 20-24: 18% of girls aged 15-19 experienced IPV in last 12 months, compared to 15% of 20-24 year olds.
However, identifying country-level IPV trends, which could help establish progress (or lack thereof) over time, is difficult due to lack of regularly collected and reported data.
Another aspect of adolescent bodily integrity that we explore in the report refers to adolescent freedom from child labour. However, SDG indicator 8.7.1 on child labour is neither disaggregated by adolescent nor youth age but instead reports data for all children aged 5–17. This is a prime example of the problems associated with a lack of systemic and nuanced data disaggregation as clearly comparing the diverse capacities and development trajectories of a 5 year old with a 17 year old is not illuminating for policy makers or programme designers.
It is also important to note that data included in this series does not capture the worst forms of child labour including human slavery, recruitment of children as child soldiers or into prostitution – thus exacerbating the invisibility of these highly vulnerable children from policy and programming priorities
In the context of Covid-19, our findings highlight that risks to adolescent bodily integrity and freedom from violence have become heightened.
In Jordan we found that almost half (49%) of adolescents surveyed described increased levels of intra-household conflict. Our qualitative research findings identified the economic downturn and the fact that male family members were spending more time at home with associated greater time burdens on women and girls having to cater to their needs as key drivers of these tensions.
Adolescent psychosocial wellbeing and social connectedness is another critical aspect of adolescent health.
But there is a total absence of indicators to assess adolescent psychosocial wellbeing in the SDG framework.
We looked at: SDG indicator 16.2.1 as a proxy for lack of support from a trusted adult – i.e. the percentage of children and adolescents who experience violent caregiver punishment or psychological aggression.
In Palestine for example, findings show that 92% of Palestinian children and adolescents experience caregiver violence or aggression.
However, of the countries we examine here, none have data points from more than a single year, making the degree of progress over time difficult to ascertain.
In terms of adolescent voice, agency and community engagement all of which are critical to adolescent health and wellbeing again we find no specific indicators in the SDG framework
As a proxy, we analyse SDG indicator 5.4.1: Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by sex, age and location for this domain, and find that reporting on this domain is sparse
From the list of countries examined in our report, only Palestine reports data for 15-24 year olds. To the extent that data is available, it clearly show that girls are disadvantaged over their male peers when it comes to negotiating their own time use, with girls 7x as likely to be burdened by unpaid care and domestic work – but as you can see by the low rates – 14% for girls and 2% for boys these figures likely suggest significant rates of under-reporting.
So what are the implications of these findings? Broadly speaking our report underscores that the data needed to raise the profile of adolescents in the policy agenda at a global and regional level are significant and urgent. If young people aged 10-19 years are not visible in the data underpinning progress reports towards the SDGs, they are likely not to be accorded the priority in funding and policies that this life-stage merits with implications for this cohort now and over the life-course.
More specifically, in terms of a data and research agenda, our findings point to three key priority actions:
First, in terms of Bodily autonomy, integrity and freedom from violence: It is critical to focus data collection on specific age ranges to account for the variance in threats to bodily integrity pertaining to different ages. For example, younger adolescents may be more vulnerable to violent methods of discipline from parents, whereas the threat of GBV is magnified in the mid-adolescent stage given high rates of IPV in the context of child marriages. In this regard, sharing good practice examples of indicators employed among stakeholders across the region will be important, including through the Arab Coalition on Adolescent Health.
Second, in terms of SRH, health and nutrition: In addition to collecting much needed data on adolescent birth rates for very young adolescents, it is key to sharpen the focus of data collection on access to health services and infrastructure to identify gaps based on age and sex in addition to more generalised parts of the population. Providing guidance to Ministries of Health and Youth on appropriate indicators and publishing an annual league table to promote progress & accountability could be a helpful first step.
Finally, in terms of psychosocial well-being and connectedness, voice and agency: Given the dearth of adolescent-specific indicators in the SDGs for these key domains, collect and report data more frequently and regularly on proxy indicators including SDG targets 5.4 (recognise and value unpaid care and domestic work) and 16.2 (ending caregiver aggression) in order to establish observable trends in countries and regions over time.
This needs to be complemented with efforts to promote data collection on adolescent girls’ psychosocial wellbeing ( in line with SDG 3) and voice and agency in the family, classroom and community as indicators of antecedents of women’s political empowerment (SDG 5.5).
You can find more detail and data in our report online here as well as on GAGE research on adolescent capabilities and wellbeing more broadly – about which my colleagues Dr Bassam Abu Hamad and Sarah Alheiwidi will be presenting in sessions later today.