Voices of the African child: An article on youth engagements in sexual and reproductive health and rights [SRHR] policies in Africa

Abstract

The poor participation of youths in politics and governance in Africa may be as a result of the indigenous African believe that wisdom is associated with the aged and thus the elderly makes for best leaders. This has led to a lot of African nations with the worlds youngest populations as her majority being led by some of the world’s oldest leaders. Like Nigeria for example. In the aspect of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), we have old and unamended policies that no longer seek to favour the mental, physical or social sexual and reproductive wellbeing of the younger and younger African populace. The aim of this study was primarily to listen to what some African Youths proposed for the improvement of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in their Countries. This was done by using a validated data tool in a randomized cross-sectional study amongst 80 participants from over 11 African countries. The results showed that majority of the correspondents wanted to implement policies to improve Comprehensive Sexual Education, Community advocacy/awareness engagements and government policies amendments, respectively. Other areas mentioned were; improved Family planning services and, Human and reproductive health rights. While the two people said they were going to scale down SRHR and Do nothing concerning SRHR, respectively in their countries. No one made mention of improving any aspect concerning the LGBTQ community, what so ever.