Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research (SRH)
Including the Human Reproduction Special Programme (HRP)

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights

Adolescence is the period of life that encompasses the transition from childhood to adulthood. WHO defines adolescents as people aged between 10 and 19 years, while recognizing that age is only one characteristic defining this critical period of rapid human development.

An individual’s behaviour and the choices they make during this time can determine their future health and well-being.

Adolescents across the world face considerable challenges to their sexual and reproductive health and rights. These include: sexual coercion and intimate partner violence; lack of education and information; high rates of early and unwanted pregnancy; lack of access to health services, especially for contraception and safe abortion; gender inequalities and harmful traditional practices, such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage; and risk of STIs (including HIV).

 

Very young adolescents (VYAs)

The ages 10 to 14 are among the most critical for human development, yet one of the most poorly understood stages of the life course. While biological processes are universal, the social contexts within which they occur vary considerably. Across early adolescence, young people are expected to assume socially defined gender roles that shape their sexual and reproductive health future.

Screenshot of GEAS websiteThe Global Early Adolescent Study (GEAS) Training Suite is a resource for research and programming with Very Young Adolescents (VYAs). Because working with VYAs is often prohibited by ethical review boards and other regulatory bodies, the ethics and logistics of conducting research with VYAs is poorly explored.


WHO/HRP in collaboration with partners and stakeholders, is undertaking a research priority setting exercise on the sexual and reproductive health of very young adolescents.

Publications

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Social and behaviour change interventions for contraception and family planning
Implementation guidance for policymakers and programme managers
WHO guideline on preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries

The objectives of this guideline are the same as those of the 2011 edition, namely to provide evidence-based normative guidance on interventions to improve...

WHO guideline on preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries

The objectives of this guideline are the same as those of the 2011 edition, namely to provide evidence-based normative guidance on interventions to improve...

Journal articles

2025

Lohan M, Brennan-Wilson A, Bradshaw M, et al. Global research priority-setting exercise on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young adolescents. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. Published online August 12, 2025. doi:10.1016/S2352-4642(25)00190-7

2024

(Supp) Improving the lives of adolescents and young adults, Journal of Adolescent Health. October 2024, Vol 75, Issue 4, p525-690. 

Chalasani S, Rumble L, Banati P, Bastien S, Luna JR, Petroni S. Adolescents and the International Conference on Population and Development at 30. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. Published online September 11, 2024. doi:10.1016/S2352-4642(24)00235-9

Lassi ZS, Rahim KA, Stavropoulos AM, et al. Use of contraceptives, empowerment and agency of adolescent girls and young women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Sex Reprod Health. 2024;50(3):195-211. Published 2024 Jul 12. doi:10.1136/bmjsrh-2023-202151

Javadi D, Sacks E, Brizuela V, et al. Factors that influence the uptake of postnatal care among adolescent girls: a qualitative evidence synthesis. BMJ Glob Health. 2023;8(Suppl 2):e011560. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2022-011560

Barua A, Chandra-Mouli V, Mehta R, et al. Lessons learned from conceptualising and operationalising the National Adolescent Health Programme or Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram's Learning Districts Initiative in six districts of India. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023;31(1):2283983. doi:10.1080/26410397.2023.2283983

2023

Plesons M, De Meyer S, Amo-Adjei J, et al. Protocol for a multi-country implementation research study to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of context-specific actions to train and support facilitators to deliver sexuality education to young people in out-of-school settings. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023;31(2):2204043. doi:10.1080/26410397.2023.2204043

Gonsalves L, Kamuyango A, Chandra-Mouli V. Pharmacies: an important source of contraception for some adolescents, but not a panacea for all. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023;31(1):2221883. doi:10.1080/26410397.2023.2221883

Maceira D, Oizerovich S, Perrotta G, et al. Acceptability and continuation of use of the subdermal contraceptive implant among adolescents and young women in Argentina: a retrospective cohort study. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023;31(1):2189507. doi:10.1080/26410397.2023.2189507

Ramaiya A, Chandra-Mouli V, Both R, et al. Assessing the health, social, educational and economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on adolescents in low- and middle-income countries: a rapid review of the literature. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2023;31(1):2187170. doi:10.1080/26410397.2023.2187170

2022

Adebayo E, Essiet A, Plesons M, et al. "Commitment, Concessions and Compromise. Experiences of building support for and addressing resistance to sexuality education from Nigeria" Open Health, vol. 3, no. 1, 2022, pp. 155-167. https://doi.org/10.1515/openhe-2022-0027

Akwara E, Worknesh K, Oljira L, et al. ASRHR in Ethiopia: reviewing progress over the last 20 years and looking ahead to the next 10 years [published correction appears in Reprod Health. 2022 Aug 4;19(1):173. doi: 10.1186/s12978-022-01474-y]. Reprod Health. 2022;19(Suppl 1):123. Published 2022 Jun 13. doi:10.1186/s12978-022-01434-6

Sardinha L, García-Moreno C, Guthold R. Global Estimated Prevalence of Physical and/or Sexual Intimate Partner Violence Against Ever-Partnered Women, by Age, 2018. J Adolesc Health. 2022;70(6):846-847. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.12.019

Bastien S, Ferenchick E, Mbassi SM, Plesons M, Chandra-Mouli V. Improving health worker motivation and performance to deliver adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in the Democratic Republic of Congo: study design of implementation research to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a package of interventions. Glob Health Action. 2022;15(1):2022280. doi:10.1080/16549716.2021.2022280

2021

Muthengi E, Olum R, Chandra-Mouli V. Context Matters-One Size Does Not Fit All When Designing Interventions to Prevent Child Marriage. J Adolesc Health. 2021;69(6S):S1-S3. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.09.018

Odimba SO, Squires F, Ferenchick E, et al. A collaborative learning approach to improving health worker performance in adolescent sexual and reproductive health service provision: a descriptive feasibility study in six health zones in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Glob Health Action. 2021;14(1):1985228. doi:10.1080/16549716.2021.1985228

Guthold R, Carvajal-Velez L, Adebayo E, et al. The Importance of Mental Health Measurement to Improve Global Adolescent Health. J Adolesc Health. 2023;72(1S):S3-S6. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.03.030

Plesons M, Travers E, Malhotra A, et al. Updated research gaps on ending child marriage and supporting married girls for 2020-2030. Reprod Health. 2021;18(1):152. Published 2021 Jul 20. doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01176-x

Newby H, Marsh AD, Moller AB, et al. A Scoping Review of Adolescent Health Indicators. J Adolesc Health. 2021;69(3):365-374. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.04.026

Chandra-Mouli V, Plesons M. A Groundbreaking Systematic Review, but That Alone Is Not Enough to Change the Course of Programming on Child Marriage Prevention. J Adolesc Health. 2021;68(5):833-835. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2021.02.016

Chandra-Mouli V, Neal S, Moller AB. Adolescent sexual and reproductive health for all in sub-Saharan Africa: a spotlight on inequalities. Reprod Health. 2021;18(Suppl 1):118. Published 2021 Jun 17. doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01145-4

Igras S, Plesons M, Chandra-Mouli V. Building evidence on what works (and what does not): practical guidance from the World Health Organization on post-project evaluation of adolescent sexual and reproductive health projects. Health Policy Plan. 2021;36(5):594-605. doi:10.1093/heapol/czab028

Hennegan J, Winkler IT, Bobel C, et al. Menstrual health: a definition for policy, practice, and research. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2021;29(1):1911618. doi:10.1080/26410397.2021.1911618

Vanderkruik R, Gonsalves L, Kapustianyk G, Allen T, Say L. Mental health of adolescents associated with sexual and reproductive outcomes: a systematic review. Bull World Health Organ. 2021;99(5):359-373K. doi:10.2471/BLT.20.254144

Plesons M, Patkar A, Babb J, et al. The state of adolescent menstrual health in low- and middle-income countries and suggestions for future action and research. Reprod Health. 2021;18(1):31. Published 2021 Feb 8. doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01082-2

Mwaisaka J, Gonsalves L, Thiongo M, et al. Young People's Experiences Using an On-Demand Mobile Health Sexual and Reproductive Health Text Message Intervention in Kenya: Qualitative Study. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. 2021;9(1):e19109. Published 2021 Jan 15. doi:10.2196/19109

2020

Plesons M, Khanna A, Ziauddin M, Gogoi A, Chandra-Mouli V. Building an enabling environment and responding to resistance to sexuality education programmes: experience from Jharkhand, India. Reprod Health. 2020;17(1):168. Published 2020 Oct 30. doi:10.1186/s12978-020-01003-9

Bash-Taqi R, Watson K, Akwara E, Adebayo E, Chandra-Mouli V. From commitment to implementation: lessons learnt from the first National Strategy for the Reduction of Teenage Pregnancy in Sierra Leone. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2020;28(1):1818376. doi:10.1080/26410397.2020.1818376

Neal S, Channon AA, Chandra-Mouli V, Madise N. Trends in adolescent first births in sub-Saharan Africa: a tale of increasing inequity?. Int J Equity Health. 2020;19(1):151. Published 2020 Sep 4. doi:10.1186/s12939-020-01251-y

Guerrero F, Lucar N, Garvich Claux M, et al. Developing an SMS text message intervention on sexual and reproductive health with adolescents and youth in Peru. Reprod Health. 2020;17(1):116. Published 2020 Jul 31. doi:10.1186/s12978-020-00943-6

Chandra-Mouli V, Akwara E. Improving access to and use of contraception by adolescents: What progress has been made, what lessons have been learnt, and what are the implications for action?. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2020;66:107-118. doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2020.04.003

Barua A, Watson K, Plesons M, Chandra-Mouli V, Sharma K. Adolescent health programming in India: a rapid review. Reprod Health. 2020;17(1):87. Published 2020 Jun 3. doi:10.1186/s12978-020-00929-4

Gonsalves L, Wyss K, Gichangi P, Hilber AM. Pharmacists as youth-friendly service providers: documenting condom and emergency contraception dispensing in Kenya. Int J Public Health. 2020;65(4):487-496. doi:10.1007/s00038-020-01348-9

Desrosiers A, Betancourt T, Kergoat Y, Servilli C, Say L, Kobeissi L. A systematic review of sexual and reproductive health interventions for young people in humanitarian and lower-and-middle-income country settings. BMC Public Health. 2020;20(1):666. Published 2020 May 12. doi:10.1186/s12889-020-08818-y

Chandra-Mouli V, Akwara E, Engel D, et al. Progress in adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights globally between 1990 and 2016: what progress has been made, what contributed to this, and what are the implications for the future?. Sex Reprod Health Matters. 2020;28(1):1741495. doi:10.1080/26410397.2020.1741495

 

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