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Abstract
Life Sciences & Biomedicine Public, Environmental & Occupational Health Science & Technology
Background Addressing adolescents' sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) requires an understanding of the socio-cultural and spatial settings within which they live. One setting of particular importance is the informal settlements or 'slums' that are gradually dominating the urban space. We undertook a scoping review and synthesis of existing evidence on adolescent SRHR in slums in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) focusing on the characteristics and nature of existing evidence. Methods The scoping review was conducted based on Arksey and O'Malley framework and in accordance with the guidance on scoping reviews from the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) and using PRISMA reporting guidelines for scoping reviews. A comprehensive search was undertaken in PubMed, POPLINE, African Journals Online (AJOL), Bioline International and Google Scholar. The search was confined to studies published in peer reviewed journals and reports published online between January 2000 and May 2019. Studies were included in the review if they addressed SRHR issues among adolescents living in urban slums in SSA. Results The review included a total of 54 studies. The majority (79.5%) of studies were quantitative. The bulk of studies (85.2%) were observational studies with only eight intervention studies. While half (27) of the studies focused exclusively on adolescents (10-19 years), 12 studies combined adolescents with other young people (10-24 years). The studies were skewed towards sexual behavior (44%) and HIV/AIDS (43%) with very few studies focusing on other SRHR issues such as contraception, abortion, gender-based violence and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV. Most of the studies highlighted the significantly higher risks for poor SRHR outcomes among adolescents in slums as compared to their peers in other settlements. Conclusion Young people growing up in slums face tremendous challenges in relation to their SRHR needs resulting in poor outcomes such as early and unintended pregnancy, STIs, and sexual violence. The results of this review point to several potential target areas for programming, policy, and research aimed at improved adolescent SRHR in slums in SSA.
Nature of, and responses to key sexual and reproductive health challenges for adolescents in urban slums in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review
Creators
Yohannes Dibaba Wado - African Population and Health Research Center
Martin Bangha - African Population and Health Research Center
Caroline W. Kabiru - African Population and Health Research Center
Garumma T. Feyissa - Drexel Univ, Dornsife Sch Publ Hlth, Philadelphia, PA 19104 USA
Publication Details
Reproductive health, v 17(1)
Publisher
Springer Nature
Number of pages
14
Grant note
12103 / African Regional Office of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida
2016-6250 / David and Lucile Packard Foundation; The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
Resource Type
Journal article
Language
English
Academic Unit
Community Health and Prevention
Web of Science ID
WOS:000576947700001
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85092468714
Other Identifier
991019169711204721
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Web of Science research areas
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
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