Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy: Sexual and Reproductive Health for Adolescent Development

The project aims to reduce the incidence of early pregnancy in Nicaragua by promoting and strengthening an integrated approach to adolescent development respecting adolescents’ decisions and freedoms expanding their capacities and opportunities and improving their access to sexual and reproductive health. Nicaragua has one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in Latin America with approximately 24% of girls between the ages of 15 and 19 having been pregnant at least once. Gender-based violence deeply rooted traditional practices the lack of comprehensive education on sexual and reproductive health adolescent-friendly health services and economic opportunities all contribute to high early pregnancy rates. Project activities include: (1) facilitating access to comprehensive sexuality education and quality sexual and reproductive health services for adolescents; (2) implementing a communication for development strategy on the promotion of values and prevention of gender-based violence; (3) promoting curricular adjustments that allow pregnant adolescents and adolescent mothers to continue their studies in an inclusive and respectful environment; (4) strengthening care and protection services to adolescent girl survivors of gender-based violence including sexual violence with a rights approach; (5) designing a strategy of empowerment and life skills for vulnerable adolescents including the entrepreneurial capacities of adolescent girl survivors of sexual violence; and (6) strengthening inter-agency coordination for comprehensive attention to adolescent girls and boys. The project is implemented by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Nicaragua in collaboration with local stakeholders public and private including state institutions community leaders school-parents associations civil society organizations etc.

The expected outcomes for this project include: (1) improved decision-making of adolescents on their sexual and reproductive health and comprehensive development using a gender equality approach with an emphasis on adolescent girls; (2) strengthened participation of adolescents in social and economic opportunities with a focus on vulnerable adolescent girls; and (3) improved effectiveness of the comprehensive approach and sexual and reproductive health services to adolescent boys and girls.