Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights in El Salvador

Despite international support for adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and rights (SRHR) (for example, the 1994 International Conference on Population in Development), young people consistently face high levels of unmet need for contraception, unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and maternal mortality and morbidity. At the global level, adolescent females 10 to 14 years of age are twice as likely to die in childbirth as adult women, and half of all new HIV infections occur in young people between 15 and 24 years of age (Pathfinder International, 2011). Young people, particularly adolescent girls and young women, continue to face challenges in meeting their SRH needs and rights, impeding their ability to contribute to the country’s development. Within this context, the World Bank conducted a quantitative and qualitative study in El Salvador to understand how the country is addressing adolescent SRH and SRHR, among 1,495 adolescents 10 to 19 years of age. The study was funded by the Nordic Development Trust Fund (NTF) within the Bank’s Operations Policy and Country Services (OPCS) Unit’s knowledge and learning program. The study aimed to: (a) evaluate associations between adolescent SRH, human rights, and economic development among adolescents and youth; (b) assess the operational implications of integrating human rights instruments into SRH services; and (c) systematize and disseminate the results of these activities in order to support a regional and multi-sectoral dialogue on adolescent SRHR. This knowledge brief summarizes the results of this study.