Effective Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services and Strengthening of Primary Health Care for Adolescents

General objective: Contribute to reducing adolescent pregnancy and early unions in highly vulnerable areas by strengthening primary health care and promoting sustained changes in social and gender norms that limit the full exercise of adolescents’ rights, particularly those of girls and young women.

Specific objectives:

1. Contribute to strengthening the primary health care response for adolescents, in line with national and international standards, ensuring effective access to sexual and reproductive health counseling and modern contraceptive methods, with particular emphasis on long-acting methods.
2. Promote sustained changes in the social, cultural, and gender norms that influence early unions and adolescent pregnancy, recognizing shared social responsibility for these issues through strategies and methodologies tailored to the local, social, and cultural context, and that strengthen advocacy for the protection and fulfillment of rights.

The persistence of adolescent pregnancy and early unions in contexts of multidimensional poverty (78% to 99%), violence, and structural barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health services.

The project comprises three interrelated outcomes: two focused on strengthening the health system and one focused on educational and community-based processes. Each outcome has a specific methodological approach.

• Component 1 (Health): Operational assessment, technical and interpersonal skills training for health personnel, specialized training in long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARC), and ongoing monitoring.
• Component 2 (Community): Training for community leaders, arts-based educational activities with adolescents, and family dialogue spaces to challenge the normalization of early pregnancy.

Adolescents (ages 10–19), young women, families, community leaders, and primary health care personnel.

Centro de Desarrollo y Autogestión (DYA), Ministry of Public Health (MSP).