Engaging adolescents for sexual and reproductive health and rights and family planning advocacy in Pakistan

Addressing the challenges posed by cultural and religious stigmas, restrictive laws, and gender disparities in access to sexual and reproductive health education and services.

 We aim to investigate the implications of Pakistan’s high fertility rates and early marriages on adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), particularly among youth. Concentrating on the nation’s large young population, with a significant proportion under 24 years of age, the research seeks to uncover the knowledge gaps and service needs in SRHR for adolescents in rural areas.

The ultimate objective is to develop and evaluate a participatory action research-based national SRHR and family planning advocacy toolkit, aimed at empowering adolescents to make informed decisions about their sexual health. The immediate academic benefit of this study is the identification and filling of existing research gaps on adolescent SRHR in Pakistan, culminating in the creation of peer-reviewed publications and a comprehensive evidence base.