[vc_section][vc_row][vc_column][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1647484270943{margin-bottom: 80px !important;}”][vc_column_inner][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Addressing Teen Pregnancy and Early Marriage in The Gambia” alignment=”left” sub_heading_margin=”margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:20px;”]The persistently high rates of early marriage below the age of 18 is a global concern. Over the last two decades, early marriage in The Gambia declined significantly (from 58% to 30%), however, this rate is still high. The reasons for the decline and continuing practice of early marriage, despite the 2010 National Child Protection Strategy Plan, are not well understood. Very few studies have been conducted to find out what and how local factors influence decisions about child marriage in rural Gambian communities.

The overall aim of this study is to determine the factors that either perpetuate or lead to a decline in or early marriage. The information generated will be used to design a relevant package of interventions that will be tested in Lower Badibu District, the second poorest region in the country. This study will involve a cross-sectional household survey with a sample of 915 respondents aged 10 years and above, stratified by ethnicity and age. The research team will convene 28 focus group discussions within each of the four ethnic groups for seven categories of respondents defined by age and sex and key informant interviews with 173 community-based decision-makers will also be conducted.[/ultimate_heading]READ MORE[/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner css=”.vc_custom_1632886763492{margin-top: 100px !important;margin-bottom: 80px !important;}”][vc_column_inner][ultimate_heading main_heading=”Shifting gender norms for improved maternal and adolescent health in The Gambia and Ghana” alignment=”left” sub_heading_margin=”margin-top:20px;margin-bottom:20px;”]The largest cohort of youth in history is entering the stage of adolescence characterized by rapid physical, cognitive, and social development. Decisions made during this critical stage have significant impacts on health and overall well-being in later life. In The Gambia and Ghana, the sexual debut of girls occurs at a young age, when they are unprepared to navigate sexual behaviors and consequences such as sexually transmitted infections, teenage pregnancy, sexual and gender-based violence, unsafe abortions, and associated complications. A combination of restrictive laws and policies, limited capacity of the health system to deliver quality services, lack of tailored information, and harmful cultural practices and social norms are limiting the ability of adolescents – especially adolescent girls – to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights and access quality services.

This project uses gender-transformative approaches to address both supply-side and demand-side challenges encountered by adolescent girls and boys in addressing their sexual, reproductive, and maternal health needs. The supply-side focus on making adolescent sexual and reproductive health services more youth-friendly. Using training and supported interactions, the project will examine and positively influence attitudes and norms of both healthcare providers and young couples. The project will also look at intersecting vulnerabilities (such as ethnic or sexual identity, poverty, or education levels) of adolescents to support changing harmful gender norms and practices. The demand side involves strengthening birth preparedness and complication readiness by pregnant adolescent girls so that unnecessary and potentially fatal delays in accessing maternal and newborn health services are reduced. Overall, the project is designed to identify relevant factors and strategies to successfully sustain and scale up the intervention to other communities across Ghana and The Gambia.[/ultimate_heading]READ MORE[/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][/vc_section]