ASRH and related policies, legislations, guidelines, standards and plan of action

Broad Objective To create awareness of ASRH policies and guidelines in order to improve the quality of life and well being of young people.

Specific Objectives Define the following terms Policy Legislation Guidelines Standards State the available policies, legislations, guidelines and implementation strategies related to ASRH service provision. Discuss the guidelines and strategies to address adolescent health concerns

Definitions of terms Policy: Is a statement of intent that gives the framework to operationalize the set objective. It is meant to influence or determine decisions or procedures Legislation: This is the process of making laws or having powers to make laws. Laws are rules of action established by authority or statute.

Definitions… Guidelines: These are general directives to achieve the set objectives. Standards: These are set measures, procedures or practices to assess performance. Plan of Action: Is a set of individualized written strategies and activities designed to be undertaken to meet a set objectives

Existing legislations, policies and guidelines Legislation Children’s Act 2001 Policies HIV/AIDS Policy. (1997) National Population Policy for Sustainable Development (2000) National Youth policy (2002) Adolescent reproductive health and development policy. (2003) National Reproductive Health Policy (2005) MOEST: The return to school policy

Existing legislations, policies and guidelines… Guidelines National Guidelines for Medical Management of Rape and Sexual Violence (2004). National plan of action for the Kenya adolescent reproductive health and development policy. (2005). National guidelines for the provision of youth friendly services (YFS) in Kenya. (2005). Family Planning Guidelines for Service Providers (2005).

Contd… Plan of Action: National health Sector Strategic Plan Adolescent Reproductive Health and development Policy Plan of Action 2005 – National plan of action on elimination of Female genital mutilation

Contd… Standards Standards for maternal care in Kenya (2002) National Guidelines for Quality obstetrics and Peri-natal care. Nov.2004

Adolescent Reproductive Health and Development Policy Goal The goal of the policy is to improve the well-being and quality of life of Kenya’s young people

Objectives Identify and define adolescent health and development needs. To provide guidelines and strategies to address adolescent concerns To promote partnership among adolescents, parents and community To create an enabling legal and socio-cultural environment that promotes provision of information, counseling and services for adolescents and youth.

Objectives … To promote and protect adolescent reproductive rights. To strengthen inter-sectoral coordination and networking in the field of adolescent health and development. To promote participation of adolescent in reproductive health and development programs To identify monitoring and evaluation indicators for ARH&D To advocate for increased resource commitments for adolescent and youth health and development programs.

Policy Health Indicators Doubling of contraceptive use rate among adolescents (aged years), from 4.2% in 1998 to 8.4% in the year 2015, among youth (20-24 years), from 19.9% to 40% during the same period. Promotion of facilities offering basic essential obstetric care to adolescent and youth increased from 15% to 30% and comprehensive essential obstetric care from 9% to 18% by the year 2015

Policy Health Indicators… Proportion of facilities offering youth friendly services increased from 12% to 85% by the year Proportion of mothers below 25 years receiving at least two doses of tetanus toxoid during pregnancy increased from 50% to 85% by the year Antenatal attendance by mothers below years increased from 90 to 95% by 2015(KDHS 2003)

Policy Health Indicators… Proportion of mothers below age 25 years delivering in health facilities increased from 47%(KDHS 2003) to 60% by the 2015

Demographic indicators Proportion of women aged below 20 years with a first birth reduced from 45% in 1998 to 22% by 2015 Median age of first sexual intercourse raised from 16.7 years for girls and 16.8 years for boys to 18 years for both by the year 2015 Maternal mortality ratio reduced by 50% in the years age group by 2015

Social service indicators Universal primary education UPE achieved by 2003 and education for all EFA by 2015 Gender equity in education achieved by 2015.

Five priority concerns in the policy Adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights Harmful practices Drug and substance abuse Social economic factors Young people with disabilities

Adolescent sexual and reproductive rights 1.Information To learn about the benefits and availability of the essential services package. 2.Access To obtain services regardless of sex, creed, colour, marital status or location. 3.Choice To be able to practice safe and effective family planning and other sexual and reproductive health services

Adolescent sexual and reproductive rights… 4.Safety To be able to practice safe and effective family planning and other sexual and reproductive health services. 5.Privacy To have a private environment during counselling or services 6.Dignity To be treated with courtesy, consideration and attentiveness

Adolescent sexual and reproductive rights… 7. Confidentiality: To be assured that any personal information will remain confidential. 8.Comfort To feel comfortable when receiving services 9.Continuity To receive essential services and supplies for as long as needed

Adolescent sexual and reproductive rights… 10.Opinion To express views on services offered. Young women have the same rights as older women attending services, but strongly express their need for more information, better access and guaranteed privacy and confidentiality, as well as respect for their dignity.

Harmful Practices - strategic actions Raising the legal age at marriage Research on harmful practices Protection of girls Safety nets and rehabilitation and rescue mechanisms for victims of sexual abuse and violence Justice and provision of legal assistance,

Harmful Practices - strategic actions… Strengthen the capacity of institutions, communities, families and individuals Protect young people in penal institutions from sexual abuse Appropriate policies, legislation, programs and enforcement

Children’s Act rights The right to life The right not to be discriminated against The right to live with parents The right to education including, religious education The right to health

Children’s Act rights… The right to be protected from child labour The disabled child to be treated with respect The right for protection against physical and psychological abuse Female child is protected against early marriages, FGC etc

Children’s Act rights… Every child is protected against sexual abuse and use of drugs, torture, inhuman treatment and unlawful arrest Every child has a right to leisure, play, recreation and privacy NB :Anybody who infringes on the rights of the child can be imprisoned for 12 months or fined Kshs.50,000/= or both.