Gender-transformative and intersectional approach to youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in Nigeria

Primary Recipient (Nigeria): University of Nigeria

Principal Investigator: Chinyere Mbachu

Abstract

Young people in Nigeria face multiple barriers when accessing quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. These barriers include discriminatory and judgmental attitudes from health providers, limited or lack of privacy and confidentiality, and adverse gender and social norms. Health system interventions designed to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents and young people focus largely on strengthening capacities and skills of healthcare providers to provide youth-friendly services, without addressing underlying gender and power perspectives that shape how those services are delivered. This project aims to increase service providers’ awareness and critical thinking on gender, intersectionality (linkage with other factors such as age, ethnicity, ability, education, social status, and other potential intersecting identities), and power dynamics. It also aims to improve uptake of and satisfaction with SRH services provided to young people. The research team, in collaboration with communities and healthcare providers, will design, adapt, and implement a multi-component intervention. This will include action learning, which entails periodic reflective meetings between researchers, health service providers, and community members and representatives, and the application of economic and equity analyses to the work. Special attention will be paid to achieving gender equality and inclusion. The study will be conducted in six local government areas with the poorest SRH outcomes among young people as prioritized by the government. Expected outputs include open-access peer-reviewed articles, open research datasets, policy briefs and blogs, regional and global conference presentations, and media chats with young people and community members. This project is one among four selected through a closed competition run by the Global Health program titled “Advancing Sexual, Reproductive and Maternal Health Innovations using Gender Transformative Approaches”. 7