Abstract
Objectives:
The aim of this scoping review was to identify and provide an overview of the impact of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) interventions on reproductive health outcomes among young people in sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods:
Searches were carried out in five data bases. The databases were searched using variations and combinations of the following keywords: contraception, family planning, birth control, young people and adolescents. The Cochrane risk-of-bias 2 and Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies-of-Interventions tools were used to assess risk of bias for articles included.
Results:
Community-based programs, mHealth, SRH education, counselling, community health workers, youth friendly health services, economic support and mass media interventions generally had a positive effect on childbirth spacing, modern contraceptive knowledge, modern contraceptive use/uptake, adolescent sexual abstinence, pregnancy and myths and misperceptions about modern contraception.
Conclusion:
Sexual and reproductive health interventions have a positive impact on sexual and reproductive health outcomes. With the increasing popularity of mHealth coupled with the effectiveness of youth friendly health services, future youth SRH interventions could integrate both strategies to improve SRH services access and utilization.
1 Introduction
Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges are currently recognised through Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 3 (, ). SRH problems have been shown to account for about one-fifth of the disease burden worldwide () and the burden is much higher among young women in the reproductive age group (). Sexual activity and experimentation are normative parts of adolescent development that may, at the same time, be associated with adverse SRH outcomes, including the acquisition of sexually transmitted illnesses (STIs), unplanned pregnancies and abortions (, ). Moreover, many young women are at high risk of lack of access to, and inconsistent or incorrect use of contraception leading to unintended pregnancies (, ). Unintended pregnancies result in disruptions in young women's education, professional opportunities and, essentially, reproductive sovereignty. Inequalities such as these have implications on a central pillar of the SDGs: to leave no one behind. While overall, significant progress has been made on the SDGs in years gone by, some discrepancies have continued, including those between rural and urban communities as well as those caused by socioeconomic status, gender, age and other demographic factors ().
Young people especially in sub-Saharan African have been reported to have limited access to SRH services (, ). Access to SRH services is affected by a myriad of factors related to young people's SRH knowledge and awareness of availability of services, and access and usage of these services. Several cultural, socioeconomic and political factors further act as barriers to the delivery of SRH information and services to young people. Additionally, failure to provide youth friendly SRH services, unwelcoming behaviour and negative attitude by healthcare workers often act as barriers to young people's access and usage of SRH services (, ). These scenarios puts pressure on sub-Saharan Africa policy makers and practitioners to find ways of mitigating SRH challenges (). Therefore, health care providers have an important role to play in ensuring that young people have access to high quality and non-judgmental SRH services in youth-friendly settings that recognize the unique bio-psychosocial needs of young people ().
Several countries in sub-Saharan Africa including Zimbabwe, Malawi, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia and South Africa have implemented successful SRH programs targeting young people (, ). Thus, African countries have acknowledged the importance of SRH among young people, and as a result, have been implementing related strategies both at community and facility levels. These strategies have included comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), referred to as sexuality and relationship education curricula that are age-appropriate and culturally relevant (, ). They have also encompassed peer education, mass media campaigns, cash transfers and youth-friendly centres—which are spaces created for young people to access SRH health information and services (–), and youth-friendly services—which are accessible and appropriate services that appeal to youths in a manner that promotes equity and interactions between users and providers ().
2 Objective
The aim of this scoping review was to identify SRH interventions and provide an overview of the impact these interventions on reproductive health outcomes among young people in sub-Saharan Africa.
3 Methods
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for Scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines were used to search and select the articles included in this scoping review (). To make sure that all relevant information was included in the analysis, the PRISMA-ScR checklist (Table 1) was utilised. Data extraction was also guided by the PROGRESS-Plus framework, which was suggested by the Campbell and Cochrane Equity Methods Group (). The population, intervention, comparison, outcome and context (PICOC) model for review questions was applied in the designing of the research question ().
Table 1
| Search number | Search details | Results |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | ((“Contraception”[Title/Abstract] OR “Contraceptives”[Title/Abstract] OR “family planning”[Title/Abstract] OR “family plan”[Title/Abstract] OR “birth control”[Title/Abstract] OR “birth prevention”[Title/Abstract] OR “planned parenthood”[Title/Abstract]) AND (“young person”[Title/Abstract] OR “young people”[Title/Abstract] OR “young adults”[Title/Abstract] OR “young adulthood”[Title/Abstract] OR “young women”[Title/Abstract] OR “young men”[Title/Abstract] OR “emerging adults”[Title/Abstract] OR “college students”[Title/Abstract] OR “Adolescents”[Title/Abstract] OR “Teenagers”[Title/Abstract] OR “Teenage”[Title/Abstract] OR “Teens”[Title/Abstract] OR “Youth”[Title/Abstract] OR “generation z”[Title/Abstract])) AND (2010:2023[pdat]) | 4,274 |
| 24 | (“Contraception”[Title/Abstract] OR “Contraceptives”[Title/Abstract] OR “family planning”[Title/Abstract] OR “family plan”[Title/Abstract] OR “birth control”[Title/Abstract] OR “birth prevention”[Title/Abstract] OR “planned parenthood”[Title/Abstract]) AND (“young person”[Title/Abstract] OR “young people”[Title/Abstract] OR “young adults”[Title/Abstract] OR “young adulthood”[Title/Abstract] OR “young women”[Title/Abstract] OR “young men”[Title/Abstract] OR “emerging adults”[Title/Abstract] OR “college students”[Title/Abstract] OR “Adolescents”[Title/Abstract] OR “Teenagers”[Title/Abstract] OR “Teenage”[Title/Abstract] OR “Teens”[Title/Abstract] OR “Youth”[Title/Abstract] OR “generation z”[Title/Abstract]) | 10,851 |
| 23 | “young person”[Title/Abstract] OR “young people”[Title/Abstract] OR “young adults”[Title/Abstract] OR “young adulthood”[Title/Abstract] OR “young women”[Title/Abstract] OR “young men”[Title/Abstract] OR “emerging adults”[Title/Abstract] OR “college students”[Title/Abstract] OR “Adolescents”[Title/Abstract] OR “Teenagers”[Title/Abstract] OR “Teenage”[Title/Abstract] OR “Teens”[Title/Abstract] OR “Youth”[Title/Abstract] OR “generation z”[Title/Abstract] | 480,416 |
| 22 | “generation z”[Title/Abstract] | 237 |
| 21 | “Youth”[Title/Abstract] | 95,550 |
| 20 | “Teens”[Title/Abstract] | 7,545 |
| 19 | “Teenage”[Title/Abstract] | 10,043 |
| 18 | “Teenagers”[Title/Abstract] | 14,468 |
| 17 | “Adolescents”[Title/Abstract] | 241,992 |
| 16 | “college students”[Title/Abstract] | 26,817 |
| 15 | “emerging adults”[Title/Abstract] | 2,754 |
| 14 | “young men”[Title/Abstract] | 16,668 |
| 13 | “young women”[Title/Abstract] | 27,500 |
| 12 | “young adulthood”[Title/Abstract] | 9,827 |
| 11 | “young adults”[Title/Abstract] | 87,376 |
| 10 | “young people”[Title/Abstract] | 38,199 |
| 9 | “young person”[Title/Abstract] | 1,751 |
| 8 | “Contraception”[Title/Abstract] OR “Contraceptives”[Title/Abstract] OR “family planning”[Title/Abstract] OR “family plan”[Title/Abstract] OR “birth control”[Title/Abstract] OR “birth prevention”[Title/Abstract] OR “planned parenthood”[Title/Abstract] | 86,045 |
| 7 | “planned parenthood”[Title/Abstract] | 1,413 |
| 6 | “birth prevention”[Title/Abstract] | 311 |
| 5 | “birth control”[Title/Abstract] | 5,700 |
| 4 | “family plan”[Title/Abstract] | 18 |
| 3 | “family planning”[Title/Abstract] | 44,156 |
| 2 | “Contraceptives”[Title/Abstract] | 30,807 |
| 1 | “Contraception”[Title/Abstract] | 43,904 |
Search strategy in pubMed.
3.1 Search strategy
Five databases were searched: PubMed, Scopus, Psychological Information Database (PsycINFO), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. Predefined keywords, such as “contraceptives” and “young adults,” together with their synonyms, were used to search the databases. It was decided to create each concept's variations based on similar reviews. The initial search was conducted in August 2021 and updated in August 2023. Table 1 illustrates the search strategy for PubMed including Boolean operators, which was adapted for the other databases. Relevant articles were also searched using the PubMed “similar articles” function. To maximise the findings’ applicability to current policy, a literature search was conducted from January 2010 to August 2023.
3.2 Data collection and analysis
3.2.1 Selection of studies
Two reviewers independently examined the titles and abstracts, excluding articles that were irrelevant. The articles that were identified were transferred to Mendeley Desktop, where any duplicated articles were eliminated. Afterwards, the reviewers assessed the eligibility of the remaining articles.
3.2.2 Data extraction
Two reviewers independently gathered information from each article that was included in the comprehensive review by utilizing a predetermined excel spreadsheet form for data extraction. The excel spreadsheet form was developed by the reviewers. In case of any discrepancies, a third reviewer was involved to achieve a resolution. The following information was extracted from each article:
- (1)
Bibliographic information
- (2)
Study aims or questions.
- (3)
Study characteristics (design, sample size, number of arms)
- (4)
Intervention and control (type and characteristics of interventions and controls)
- (5)
Study setting (country)
- (6)
PROGRESS-Plus factors
- (7)
Outcome measures (type of outcome, definition of outcome)
3.2.3 Criteria for considering studies for this review
Studies that met the following criteria were included:
Population: Studies that focused on youths aged 15–24 years in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, for the purpose and context of the scoping review the word youths was used interchangeably with young people.
Intervention: This review focused on articles that reported on the effectiveness of SRH interventions on pregnancy and contraceptive use. The review also focused on papers that report effectiveness of SRH interventions on secondary outcomes such as increased knowledge of contraceptives, positive attitude/change towards contraceptives and dispelling myths and misconceptions.
Comparison: Studies with comparison groups that included older people (25 and above), no intervention, standard care group and another intervention.
Study designs: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs), interrupted time series, prospective or retrospective cohort studies and controlled before and after designs that meet the inclusion criteria were considered for the study.
Outcomes:
Primary outcomes included studies with at least one of the following metrics:
- •
Using contraception; using a new technique; continuing or improving the usage of an existing method.
- •
Becoming pregnant (at least six months after the intervention started).
Secondary outcomes include the following:
- •
Attitude about contraception or a particular type of contraception.
- •
Knowledge of the effectiveness of contraceptives or the usage of effective methods.
- •
Adolescent sexual abstinence.
Context: sub-Saharan Africa.
Studies were excluded if:
- •
Full text and abstract were both unavailable or only the abstract was available but did not convey the needed data.
- •
Conference abstract
- •
Narrative or systematic reviews
- •
Published before January 2010
3.3 Assessment of study quality
The Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool for randomised trials (RoB 2), version 2, was employed by the reviewers for randomised controlled trials (RCTs). Five categories were used to evaluate bias, with each aspect receiving a judgement (high, low, unclear), namely selection, performance, attrition, reporting, and other (). Reviewers employed the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies—of Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool to evaluate the risk of bias in non-randomized controlled trials. Studies were categorised as having a low, moderate, significant, or critical risk of bias ().
3.4 Data synthesis
Due to the heterogeneity in the design of the studies that were included, along with the diversity in outcomes and interventions, it was deemed unsuitable to conduct a meta-analysis. To enable the exploration of descriptive themes derived from the research, a thematic synthesis approach was employed for data synthesis. A narrative summary was utilized to provide an interpretation of the results and elucidate their connection to the objectives and inquiries of the review ().
3.5 Patient and public involvement statement
Since the data for the review article was extracted from published articles, without direct patient involvement, ethical approval was not required.
4 Results
4.1 Identification of potential studies
Electronic searches of 5 databases identified 20,960 potential articles (Pubmed: 4,274, CINAHL: 5,500, Cochrane: 3,418, PsycINFO: 4,768, Scopus: 3,000). After 20,458 were excluded through screening the titles and abstracts, followed by removal of 89 duplicates, a total of 413 full text articles were screened for eligibility. Full text screening led to a total of 30 full text articles and 46 studies that were included in the scoping review. Figure 1 shows the flow chart of the studies identification and selection process.
Figure 1
4.2 Usage of PROGRESS-Plus factors
All 30 articles and 43 individual studies reported at least 2 PROGRESS-Plus factors (Tables 2, 3). Age distribution was the most reported PROGRESS-Plus factor (reported in 39 studies) followed by education levels, marital status, and parity which were reported in 35, 27 and 19 studies respectively. Religion was reported in 13 studies, and gender, occupation and socio-economic status were reported in 11 studies each. Place of residence and race/ethnicity were reported in 7 and 8 studies respectively. Living situation was the least reported PROGRESS-Plus factor, being reported in 3 studies. Most studies (n = 43) considered PROGRESS-Plus factors as control variables when measuring the effect of the intervention for example in logistic regression. Among these, age, education levels and marital status were the most controlled for. Three studies in an article by Morgan and colleagues () and one study in an article by Levy and colleagues () identified PROGRESS-Plus factors, but failed to include them in their final analyses.
Table 2
| Author | Study design | Year | Location (Country) | Sample characteristics | Comparator | Outcome measures | Intervention details | Duration/length of intervention | Reported equity characteristic(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan () | Non RCT (quantitative pre-test-post-test design) | 2020 | Nigeria | Non-pregnant first-time mothers (mean age 20.6), 63% were aged 20–24 years and 29% were aged 15–19 years. 224 participating partners | Pre-intervention | Increase birth spacing intentions | Community-based programs (Peer group sessions with first time mothers; small group sessions with the husbands/partners of peer group members; small group sessions with older women, typically the mothers or mothers-in-law of peer group members; home visits by Community health workers; community sensitization; and ongoing family planning service delivery at facilities and through mobile outreach). | 4 months | None |
| Morgan () | Non RCT (quantitative pre-test-post-test design) | 2020 | Nigeria | Non-pregnant first-time mothers (mean age 20.6), 63% were aged 20–24 years and 29% were aged 15–19 years. 224 participating partners | Pre-intervention | Increase knowledge/awareness of modern contraceptive | Community-based programs (Peer group sessions with first time mothers; small group sessions with the husbands/partners of peer group members; small group sessions with older women, typically the mothers or mothers-in-law of peer group members; home visits by Community health workers; community sensitization; and ongoing family planning service delivery at facilities and through mobile outreach). | 4 months | None |
| Morgan () | Non RCT (quantitative pre-test-post-test design) | 2020 | Nigeria | Non-pregnant first-time mothers (mean age 20.6), 63% were aged 20–24 years and 29% were aged 15–19 years. 224 participating partners | Pre-intervention | Decrease myths and misperceptions of using modern contraception | Community-based programs (Peer group sessions with first time mothers; small group sessions with the husbands/partners of peer group members; small group sessions with older women, typically the mothers or mothers-in-law of peer group members; home visits by Community health workers; community sensitization; and ongoing family planning service delivery at facilities and through mobile outreach). | 4 months | None |
| Morgan () | Non RCT (quantitative pre-test-post-test design) | 2020 | Nigeria | Non-pregnant first-time mothers (mean age 20.6), 63% were aged 20–24 years and 29% were aged 15–19 years. 224 participating partners | Pre-intervention | Increase modern contraception use | Community-based programs (Peer group sessions with first time mothers; small group sessions with the husbands/partners of peer group members; small group sessions with older women, typically the mothers or mothers-in-law of peer group members; home visits by Community health workers; community sensitization; and ongoing family planning service delivery at facilities and through mobile outreach). | 4 months | Age (15–19, 20–24, 25–29) GenderMarital status (Never married, living with partner/married, Divorced/separated/widowed) Education levels (Primary Junior Secondary, Secondary, Polytechnic, University) Age of youngest childNo. of living children (0, 1, 2) |
| Brooks () | Non RCT (retrospective cross-sectional study) | 2019 | Niger | Young married women living in rural areas. Slightly over half (53.3%) of the women in the study population were older adolescents (18−19 years old) and about half (48.9%) had no formal education. | No intervention (No CHWs visits) | Increase modern contraception use | CHWs visits. | 3 months | Age (13−15, 16−17, 18–19) Education (No school, Quranic school, Government school) Parity/number of children (0, 1, 2, 3+)Race/ethnicity/tribe (Zama, Hausa) OccupationPlace of residence |
| Yakubu () | RCT | 2019 | Ghana | 367 adolescent girls between the ages of 13–19 years. 185 in the intervention group and 182 in the control group. | Normal classes. | Improve adolescent sexual abstinence | Sexual Health Education (In addition to normal classes CSE was delivered to students for 1 month) | 3 months | Age (years) (14–16, 17–19) Social class (Lower, Middle, Upper) Ethnicity (Dagombas, Gonjas, Ashantis, Others) Religion (Islam, Christianity) |
| Nuwamanya () | RCT | 2020 | Uganda | 1,112 participants between the ages 18–30 years. The median age of participants was 21 years of age, and the majority were female (over 60%), unemployed (over 85%) and Christian (90%). Over 50% were resident in off-campus hostels and in a relationship. | Standard of care-SRH service | Increase contraceptives knowledge | mHealth (internet based mobile phone app for SRH service). | 6 months | AgeGender (Male, Female) Living situation Campus hall, Off-campus hostel Rental home, Own home, Parent/Guardian home) Residence (Hometown) (Urban, Peri-urban Rural) Marital status (Relationship Single, Cohabiting, Married, Divorced, Widowed) Employment (Employed, Volunteer, Self-employed) Religion (Christian, Muslim, and Others) |
| Nuwamanya () | RCT | 2020 | Uganda | 1,112 participants between the ages 18 and 30 years. The median age of participants was 21 years of age, and the majority were female (over 60%), unemployed (over 85%) and Christian (90%). Over 50% were resident in off-campus hostels and in a relationship. | Standard of care-SRH service | Increase use of modern Contraceptive | mHealth (internet based mobile phone app for SRH service). | 6 months | AgeGender (Male, Female) Living situation Campus hall, Off-campus hostel Rental home, Own home, Parent/Guardian home) Residence (Hometown) (Urban, Peri-urban Rural) Marital status (Relationship Single, Cohabiting, Married, Divorced, Widowed) Employment (Employed, Volunteer, Self-employed) Religion (Christian, Muslim, and Others) |
| Ahmed (66) | Non RCT (Cross sectional study) | 2020 | Ethiopia | Women who were the age group between 15 and 24 years residing in rural areas (n = 4,061) and women who were the age group between 15 and 24 years residing in the urban area (n = 2,340) | No intervention | Increase use of modern Contraceptive | Mass Media Family Planning Messages (radio, television, newspaper/magazines, and mobile phones). | Cross sectional study | Age (15–19, 20–24) Religion (orthodox, catholic, protestant, Muslim, other) Marital status (single, married, separated, /divorced) Education (no education, primary, secondary, higher) Wealth index (poorest, poorer, middle, richer, richest,) RegionParity/number of children (0, 1–2, 3+) |
| Oberth (51) | Non RCT | 2021 | Zimbabwe | The mean age of participants was 15 years. The vast majority (91.17%) were adolescent girls (10–19 years old), with fewer (8.84%) young women (20–24 years old). Participants’ education ranged from none to tertiary level. Most (82.41%) were currently in school, while 17.60% were out of school or had never attended | Baseline vs. endline | Increase modern contraceptives knowledge | YFHS (Sista2Sista girls-only clubs create safe spaces for supporting and mentoring vulnerable AGYW) and Peer group SRH education. | 12 months | Age (10–14, 15–19, 20–24 years). Region/Province (Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central Mashonaland, East Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands) Education (Never attended school, out of school, In primary school, In secondary school, In tertiary education) Marital status (Cohabitating Never married, Married Separated, Divorced, Widowed) |
| Oberth (51) | Non RCT | 2021 | Zimbabwe | The mean age of participants was 15 years. The vast majority (91.17%) were adolescent girls (10–19 years old), with fewer (8.84%) young women (20–24 years old). Participants’ education ranged from none to tertiary level. Most (82.41%) were currently in school, while 17.60% were out of school or had never attended | Baseline vs. endline | Pregnancy | YFHS (Sista2Sista girls-only clubs create safe spaces for supporting and mentoring vulnerable AGYW) and Peer group SRH education. | 12 months | Age (10–14, 15–19, 20–24 years). Region/Province (Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central Mashonaland, East Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands) Education (Never attended school, out of school, In primary school, In secondary school, In tertiary education) Marital status (Cohabitating Never married, Married Separated, Divorced, Widowed) |
| Fikree () | Non RCT (Quasi-experimental) | 2017 | Ethiopia | 20 youth friendly health units | Non-intervention YFHS | Increase contraceptive (LARCs) use | Counselling, YFHS and access to contraceptives (Counselling and access to all contraceptive methods provided by trained LARC YFHS providers in the same YFHS). | 8 months | Age (years) (15–19, 20–24) Marital Status (Married, Living together, Single) Parity (Nulliparous, One Two or more) |
| Fikree () | Non RCT (Quasi-experimental) | 2018 | Ethiopia | 20 youth friendly health units where peer educators referred clients | Non-intervention (One-day family planning refresher training that included LARCs) | Decrease Myths and Misconceptions about LARCs | Sexual Health Education (Proved by trained peer educators at YFHS units). | 6 months | Age (years) (10–14, 15–19, 20–24, 25+) Marital Status (Married, living together, Single, Divorced/separated/widowed) Parity (None, 1–3). Education (Primary, Secondary, Technical/Vocational Training, University, Out of school, Others) |
| Lemani () | RCT | 2017 | Malawi | 808 women mostly between 20 and 25 years, median age (22 years) and interquartile range (5 years). Most women were from the rural areas. | Family planning untrained CHWs and routine counselling | Increase modern family planning uptake among young women | Couples counselling and CHWs (Family planning trained CHWs and Couples counselling) | 6 months | Age (14–19, 20–25, 26–30 years). Education (Never attended school, out of school, In primary school, In secondary school, In tertiary education) Marital status (Not married, Married) Residence (Urban, Rural) Parity (None, 1–3 children). |
| Almeida (49) | Non RCT (Quasi-experimental | 2018 | Angola | 589 individuals included (mean age of 16.8 ± 2.5 years), 56.7% were males | Baseline vs. endline | Increase modern contraceptive knowledge among students | Sexual health education (Lectures with time for questions and answers, group work sessions and individual work) | 2 months | Gender (Male, female) AgeMarital status (Not married, married or marital) |
| Rosenberg J (52) | Non RCT | 2018 | Malawi | Female, 15–24 years old | Standard of Care consisting of vertical HIV testing, family planning, and sexually transmitted infection management in adult-oriented spaces, by providers without extra training. | Increase family planning service uptake | YFHS. Consisting of vertical HIV testing, family planning, and sexually transmitted infection management in an integrated youth-dedicated spaces and staffed by youth-friendly peers and providers. | 12 months | Age (year) (15–17, 18–20, 21–24) Marital status (Single, Married, Divorced/widowed) Education level (Primary incomplete, Primary complete) Ever pregnant (No, Yes) |
| Wolf () | Non RCT | 2017 | Uganda | 129 adolescents (ages 15–19) | Pre-intervention | Increase contraceptive knowledge | Reproductive health education (education program was taught as an interactive discussion) | 3 weeks | Gender (Male,) Female) Age [Mean age 16.7 years (SD = 1.3)] Marital status (Unmarried) Religion (Catholic, Protestant, Muslim, Born again, Jewish, Orthodox, No Religion) Education levels Grade Level (S1, S2-S3, S4 23, S5-S6) |
| Gaughran () | Non RCT | 2014 | Kenya | 42 female teenagers average age 16.5 (+/–1.31) years | Pre-intervention | Increase family planning knowledge of female teenagers. | Reproductive health education (which included didactic sessions, educational games, and open discussions) | 6 weeks | Age (13–15, 16–17,>18) Education levels (Form 1, Form 2, Form 3) |
| Gaughran () | Non RCT | 2014 | Kenya | 42 female teenagers average age 16.5 (+/– 1.31) years | Pre-intervention | Pregnancy | Reproductive health education (which included didactic sessions, educational games, and open discussions) | 6 weeks | Age (13–15, 16–17,>18) Education levels (Form 1, Form 2, Form 3) |
| Hanne Keyser Hegdahl () | RCT | 2022 | Zambia | Adolescent girls mean age at baseline was 14.1 years (SD 1.34) | standard school and health services | Increase use of modern Contraceptive | CSE and economic support | 2 years | AgeWealth indexMarital statusParityEducation (Highest level school parent/guardian) |
| Hanne Keyser Hegdahl () | RCT | 2022 | Zambia | Adolescent girls mean age at baseline was 14.1 years (SD 1.34) | standard school and health services | Increase use of modern Contraceptive | Economic support | 2 years | AgeWealth indexMarital statusParityEducation (Highest level school parent/guardian) |
| Hanne Keyser Hegdahl () | RCT | 2022 | Zambia | Adolescent girls mean age at baseline was 14.1 years (SD 1.34) | standard school and health services | Increase in modern Contraceptive knowledge | CSE and economic support | 2 years | Wealth indexMarital statusParityEducation (Highest level school parent/guardian) |
| Hanne Keyser Hegdahl () | RCT | 2022 | Zambia | Adolescent girls mean age at baseline was 14.1 years (SD 1.34) | standard school and health services | Increase in modern Contraceptive knowledge | Economic support | 2 years | Wealth indexMarital statusParityEducation (Highest level school parent/guardian) |
| Michael T. Mbizvo (54) | RCT | 2023 | Zambia | 986 adolescent girls aged 12–24 years from Solwezi and Mufumbwe | Routine CSE | Pregnancy | CHWs and CSE (To complement CSE community health workers provided information on available SRH services in schools) | 3 years | Age (12–14, 15–19, 20–24) Education (Primary school and secondary school) Religion (Christianity and other) |
| Michael T. Mbizvo (54) | RCT | 2023 | Zambia | 986 adolescent girls aged 12–24 years from Solwezi and Mufumbwe | Routine CSE | Pregnancy | YFHS and CSE. | 3 years | Age (12–14, 15–19, 20–24) Education (Primary school and secondary school) Religion (Christianity and other) |
| Collins Annor (53) | Non-RCT | 2021 | Ghana | 392 adolescents | community without YFHS | Increasing adolescent knowledge of contraceptives | YFHS | - | Gender (female, male) Age (10–13, 14–15, 16–19)Place of residence (Rural, urban) Religion (Catholic, other Christian, Islam) Marital status of parents (Single or married) Education (Education levels of breadwinner no formal education, basic education secondary and above) |
| Marlene Makenzius () | Non-RCT | 2023 | Kenya | 1,368 school children mean (SD) ages were 16.4 years in the intervention group and 16.9 years in the control group. | Standard CSE | Decrease Myths and Misconceptions about LARCs | School based 8-hour stigma-reduction sexuality education over four sessions and standard CSE | 1 month, 1 year | AgeGender |
| Wondimagegene () | RCT | 2022 | Ethiopia | 224 sexually active secondary school adolescent girls aged 15−19 years | Increase modern contraception use | School-based per-led education | 6 months | AgePlace of residenceEducation levelsReligionMarital status | |
| Quraish Sserwanja (69) | Non-RCT | 2022 | Sierra Leone | Young women aged 15–24 years | No exposure to mHeath | Increase modern contraceptive uptake | mHealth | - | Age (15–19 and 20–24 years) Residence(Urban and Rural)Region (Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western and Northwestern) Religion (Muslims and Christians and others) (Level of education No education, primary, secondary and tertiary) Wealth index(Richest, richer, middle, poorer and poorest) Parity (None, one and above 1) Marital status (Married and Not married) |
| Quraish Sserwanja (69) | Non-RCT | 2022 | Sierra Leone | Young women aged 15–24 years | No exposure to mass media | Increase modern contraceptive uptake | Mass media (family planning messages on radio) | - | Age (15–19 and 20–24 years) Residence(Urban and Rural)Region (Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western and Northwestern) Religion (Muslims and Christians and others) Level of education No education, primary, secondary and tertiary) Wealth index(Richest, richer, middle, poorer and poorest) Parity (None, one and above 1) Marital status (Married and Not married) |
| Peter Gichangi () | RCT | Kenya | 740 youth aged 18–24 years | standard care | Busting contraception myths and misconceptions | mHealth | 7 weeks | Age (18–19 years 20–24 years) Gender (Male Female) Education level(Never gone to school Primary school Secondary school Postsecondary education)Place of residenceMarital status (Single Friends with benefits/dating/cohabiting/engaged, Married) Parity (None One child, 2 + children) | |
| Selema Akuiyibo () | Non-RCT | 2021 | Nigeria | 8,930 young people aged 15–24 years | Pre-intervention | knowledge of condom use | MTV Shuga Peer Education | 5 days | Age (15–19 20–24 years) Gender (Male Female) Marital status (Single, Married, Previously married) Place of residenceHighest educational attainment (None vocational education, quranic education, primary education, secondary education, tertiary education, no response) Employment status [Student (In School) employed, unemployed]Living situation (Who respondent lives with parent or relative or alone or friends or partner) |
| Jay G. Silverman () | RCT | 2023 | Niger | Married adolescent girls aged 13−19 | No intervention | Increase modern contraceptive uptake | CHWs | 2 years | Wife parity (None One child, 2 + children) Husband education (Any modern, quranic only, no schooling) Wife education (Any modern, quranic only, no schooling) |
| Jay G. Silverman () | RCT | 2023 | Niger | Married adolescent girls aged 13−19 | No intervention | Increase modern contraceptive uptake | Gender-segregated group discussion sessions | 2 years | Wife parity (None One child, 2 + children) Husband education (Any modern, quranic only, no schooling) Wife education (Any modern, quranic only, no schooling) |
| Jay G. Silverman () | RCT | 2023 | Niger | Married adolescent girls aged 13−19 years old | No intervention | Increase modern contraceptive uptake | CHWs and gender-segregated group discussion sessions | 2 years | Wife parity (None One child, 2 + children) Husband education (Any modern, quranic only, no schooling) Wife education (Any modern, quranic only, no schooling) |
| Ritah Bakesiima (57) | RCT | 2021 | Uganda | 588 refugee adolescent girls aged 15−19 years. | Routine counselling, the standard of care. | Increase modern contraceptive acceptance | Peer counselling | Same day | Age (15−17, 18−19) Religion [Catholic, Anglican, Adventist, Other (Pentecostal, EFC, AIC)] Ethnicity [Acholi, Nuer, Dinka, Lotuho, Other (Shilluk, Luo, Bari)] Education (None, Primary Secondary, Tertiary) Occupation (Unemployed Employed/Selfemployed Peasant farmer, Student) Marital status (Single, Cohabiting, Married, Separated/Divorced/Widowed) Parity |
| Ritah Bakesiima (57) | RCT | 2021 | Uganda | 588 refugee adolescent girls aged 15−19 years. | Routine counselling, the standard of care. | Decrease Myths and Misconceptions about modern contraceptives | Peer counselling | Same day | Age (15−17, 18−19) Religion [Catholic, Anglican, Adventist, Other (Pentecostal, EFC, AIC)] Ethnicity [Acholi, Nuer, Dinka, Lotuho, Other (Shilluk, Luo, Bari)] Education levels (None, Primary Secondary, Tertiary) Occupation (Unemployed Employed/Selfemployed Peasant farmer, Student) Marital status (Single, Cohabiting, Married, Separated/Divorced/Widowed) Parity |
| Nivedita L. Bhushan (55) | Non-RCT | 2021 | Malawi | Adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years. | Standard of care | Increased non-barrier contraception and condom uptake | YFHS | 1 year | Age (15–19, 20–24 years) Education level (Completed primary, Did not complete primary) Living Children (Yes, no) Marital status (Single, ever married) |
| Nivedita L. Bhushan (55) | Non-RCT | 2021 | Malawi | Adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years. | Standard of care | Increased non-barrier contraception and condom uptake | YFHS ± Small group counselling sessions | 1 year | Age (15–19, 20–24 years) Education level (Completed primary, Did not complete primary) Living Children (Yes, no) Marital status (Single, ever married) |
| Nivedita L. Bhushan (55) | Non-RCT | 2021 | Malawi | Adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years. | Standard of care | Increased non-barrier contraceptionand condom uptake | YFHS ± Small group counselling sessions ± Cash Transfer | 1 year | Age (15–19, 20–24 years) Education level (Completed primary, Did not complete primary) Living Children (Yes, no) Marital status (Single, ever married) |
| Quraish Sserwanja (67) | Non RCT | 2022 | Zambia | 3,000 adolescents aged 15–19 years | No access to mass media | Reduce teenage pregnancy | Mass media | - | Age (15–17 and 18–19 years)Residence(Urban and Rural)Region(Provinces)Religion(Muslims and Christians and others)Level of education(No education, primary, secondary and tertiary)Wealth index(Richest, richer, middle, poorer and poorest)Parity (None, one and above 1)Marital status (Married and Not married)Working status (Work, not working) |
| Marcy Levy () | Non RCT | 2021 | Kenya | 384 pregnant adolescent girls, adolescent mothers aged 10–19 years | Pre-intervention | Increase modern contraceptive uptake | CHWs visits. (Home visiting team) | 12 months | AgeGenderMarital status (not consider in analysis) |
| Natsayi Chimbindi (68) | Non RCT | 2023 | South Africa | 2,184 adolescent girls and young women aged 12–24 years | Pre-intervention | Increase modern contraceptive uptake | Mass media (MTV Shuga:Down South) | Baseline interviews were conducted between May 2017 and February 2018 and follow-up interviews April 2018 and September 2019 | Age (13–14, 15–17, 18–19, 20–22) Currently in school (No, Yes)Socioeconomic status (Low, Middle, High)Place of residence (Urban/Periurban, rural) |
| Anjali Sharma (61) | Non RCT | 2022 | Zambia | 1,627 young people with a median age of 22 (IQR 21–23) years | Pre-intervention | Increase knowledge of condom use | mHealth [Be in the Know Zambia (BITKZ) web application] | 5 weeks | Gender (Female, Male) Age (18, 19, 20, 21, 22,23,24) Marital status (Single, married, divorced/widowed, prefer not to answer) Education levels (Less than secondary, secondary, vocational/technical, college/university) Employment status (Unemployed, student/trainee, part-time, full-time, prefer not to answer)Wealth index (Poor, average wealth, very wealthy) |
| Paul Macharia (62) | RCT | 2023 | Kenya | Adolescents aged 15−19 years randomly assigned to the intervention (n = 146) and control (n = 154) | Accessed SRH information from regular sources | Increase SRH knowledge | mHealth [Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)-based app] | 3 months | Gender (Female, Male) Education levels (Primary, secondary and above) |
| Erhardt-Ohren () | RCT | 2022 | Niger | 404 married adolescent girls | No intervention | Increase modern contraceptive and LARC utilization | Counselling (Small group discussions) | 1 year 6 months | Age (13–14, 15–17, 18–19 years) Education level (None, koranic only, government school) Parity (0, 1, 2+) Tribe (Hausa, Zarma, Fula) Worked in last 12 months (Yes, NO) |
| Erhardt-Ohren () | RCT | 2022 | Niger | 404 married adolescent girls | No intervention | Increase modern contraceptive and LARC utilization | CHWs visits | 1 year 6 months | Age (13–14, 15–17, 18–19 years) Education level (None, koranic only, government school) Parity (0, 1, 2+) Tribe (Hausa, Zarma, Fula) Worked in last 12 months (Yes, NO) |
| Erhardt-Ohren () | RCT | 2022 | Niger | 404 married adolescent girls | No intervention | Increase modern contraceptive and LARC utilization | CHWs visits and counselling (Small group discussions) | 1 year 6 months | Age (13–14, 15–17, 18–19 years) Education level (None, koranic only, government school) Parity (0, 1, 2+) Tribe (Hausa, Zarma, Fula) Worked in last 12 months (Yes, NO) |
Characteristics of studies included in the review.
CHWs, community health workers; CSE, comprehensive sexuality education; YFHS, youth friendly health services; RCT, randomized controlled trials; LARCs, long-acting reversible contraceptives.
Bold values indicates the progress plus factors.
Table 3
| PROGRESS-Plus factor | Use of PROGRESS-Plus factors | Control variables in measuring intervention effect |
|---|---|---|
| Place of residence | 7 | 7 |
| Race/ethnicity | 8 | 8 |
| Occupation/employment status | 11 | 11 |
| Gender/sex | 11 | 10 |
| Religion | 13 | 13 |
| Education levels | 35 | 35 |
| Socio-economic status (SES) | 10 | 10 |
| Income | 0 | 0 |
| Number of living children/parity | 19 | 19 |
| Age | 39 | 38 |
| Marital status | 27 | 26 |
| Living situation | 3 | 3 |
Usage of PROGRESS-plus factors within all studies.
4.3 Risk of bias in included RCT studies
The risk of bias results for RCT studies (n = 20) are summarised in Figures 2, 3. Reporting on the overall risk of bias domain, six studies had low risk bias, one study each from articles by Yakubu and colleagues, Wondimagege and colleagues and Gichangi and colleagues (–), and three studies from an article by Silverman and colleagues (). Most of the studies 45% (n = 9) had some concerns in the overall risk of bias domain. Lastly, five studies, two studies each from articles by Nuwamanya and colleagues () and Erdhardt-Ohren colleagues () and one study from an article by Lemani and colleagues () had high risk of bias.
Figure 2
Figure 3
4.4 Risk of bias of non-randomised control studies included in the scoping review
The risk of bias assessment results using the ROBINS-I tool for the non-RCTs studies (n = 26) is shown in Figure 4. Based on the ROBINS-I tool none of the studies included in the review had an overall low risk of bias. As expected with non-RCTs, most studies 76.9% (n = 20) included were labelled as moderate risk studies across all domains. Five studies were labelled as serious risk studies across all domains (, –) and one study by Fikree and colleagues () was judged to be critical risk of bias study.
Figure 4
4.5 SRH interventions identified from the review
The narrative synthesis of the results used in this scoping review was done in line with the recommendations set out in the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Based on the research objectives, studies were classified into one of the following eight research domains: community-based program interventions, community health workers interventions, SRH education interventions, Youth friendly health services (YFHS) interventions, counselling interventions, mobile phone-based interventions, economic support, and mass media.
4.5.1 Community-based program intervention
Four studies in an article by Morgan and colleagues 2020, used a community-based program with multiple interventions to improve SRH among young people. The program included home visits by community health workers, community sensitization, and continuing family planning service delivery at facilities and through mobile outreach. It also included peer group sessions with first-time mothers, small group sessions with the husbands or partners of peer group members, and small group sessions with older women, usually the mothers or mothers-in-law of peer group members ().
4.5.2 Community health workers interventions
Community health workers (CHWs) or lay health worker are defined as healthcare workers who perform functions related to health care delivery and are trained in some way in the context of an intervention, but who has not received a formal professional or para-professional certificate or tertiary education degree (, ). CHWs are an effective means to reach clients when access is limited especially in poor resourced remote rural areas (). In the current review, 7 studies assessed the impact of CHWs interventions on SRH outcomes among adolescents and young adults. Brooks and colleagues, 2019 and Silverman and colleagues, 2023, reported that CHWs improved modern contraceptive uptake among adolescent girls (single, pregnant, married or pregnant) (, ). Mbizvo and colleagues, 2023, reported that CHWs coupled with comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) or YFHS improve pregnancy outcomes among adolescent girls. Lastly, Erhardt and colleagues, 2023, and Lemani and colleagues, 2017, reported that CHWs coupled with counselling improve modern family planning uptake among young women ().
4.5.3 SRH education
Comprehensive SRH education has been reported to be an effective strategy for improving young people's SRH outcomes (). In the current review, 12 studies reported use of SRH education interventions as a strategy to improve SRH outcomes. Firstly, Yakubu and colleagues, 2019, and Guaghran and colleagues, 2014, reported that sexual health education improved sexual abstinence and pregnancy outcomes among adolescents girls (, ). Secondly, Fikree and colleagues, 2018, and Makenzius and colleagues, 2023, reported that SRH education provided by trained peer educators at YHFs and stigma-reduction sexuality education decreased myths and misconceptions about LARCs utilization (, ). One study from an article by Hegdahl and colleagues, 2022, reported that comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) combined with economic support improved modern contraceptives uptake among adolescent girls (). Lastly, 5 studies reported that SRH education improved knowledge of modern contraceptive methods among young people (, , –49). Details of the reproductive health education strategies utilized by each study are shown in Table 2.
4.5.4 Youth friendly health services (YFHS) interventions
There is evidence that YFHS improve access to, and utilisation of SRH services by young people (, 50). In the current review, 9 studies reported the use of YFHS interventions among young people. Four articles reported that YFHS interventions improved modern contraceptives knowledge and uptake by young people (, 51–53). Oberth and colleagues, 2021, and Mbizvo and colleagues, 2023, reported that YFHS combined with peer group education and CSE, respectively, improved pregnancy outcomes among adolescent girls (51, 54). Three studies from an article by Bhushan and colleagues, 2021, reported that YFHS interventions improved non-barrier contraceptives and condoms uptake among young women (55) (see Table 2 for details of the interventions).
4.5.5 Counselling interventions
Counselling, as an intervention, has been shown to improve SRH services utilisation among young people. Counselling can be delivered directly in person, online, or via the telephone, either by medical or nursing staff, or peers, in individual or group settings. The counselling interventions may consist of a single component or multiple components delivered in a single session, or in multiple sessions at various time points (56). In the present review, 10 studies utilized counselling interventions as strategies for improving modern family services uptake and decreasing myths and misconceptions about modern contraceptives. Among these studies, 2 from an article by Bakesiima and colleagues, 2021, reported that peer counselling improved modern contraceptives acceptance and dispelled myths and misconceptions about modern contraceptives among adolescent girls aged 15–19 years (57). Furthermore, 8 studies from 5 articles reported that groups or couples counselling only, and counselling combined with different SRH interventions (including CHWs, economic support and YFHS) increased modern family planning services uptake and utilization among young women (, –, 55) (see Table 2 for details of the counselling multicomponent interventions).
4.5.6 Mobile phone-based interventions (mHealth)
Expansion of mobile phone technology and use in recent years provides an important tool to reach underserved populations in low to middle income countries. Populations with restricted access can be reached despite location and need (58–60). With the increasing popularity of mobile based interventions with young people, they promise to improve SRH services utilisation young people. In the present review, four studies utilised mHealth interventions to improve SRH outcomes (, , 61, 62). Nuwamanya and colleagues, 2020, used an internet based mobile phone application to improve the use of modern contraceptive methods (). Gichangi and colleague, 2022, reported that there was a statistically significant drop in the average absolute number of contraceptives myths and misconceptions believed by the mHealth intervention arm between baseline and endline (). Sharma and colleagues 2022, reported that at the endline, an mHealth intervention resulted in higher level of knowledge related to condoms and on wearing condoms correctly (61). According to Macharia and colleagues, (2023), there was a statistically significant difference in the total knowledge scores in the mHealth intervention group compared with the control group. Young people reported gaining knowledge on abstinence and condom use from an mHealth application (62).
4.5.7 Economic support
Gender inequality and economic constrains are central factors limiting young women's urgency regarding their own SRH, and ability to use their preferred contraceptive methods (, 63). Economic support including cash transfers have been theorised to reduce young women's economic vulnerability and engagement in unsafe or asymmetric transactional sex (, 64). Moreover, free access to a broad contraceptive method mix could increase contraceptive uptake, reduce unmet need, and increase agency in contraceptive decision-making among young women in resource-limited settings (63). In the present review, Hegdahl and colleagues, (2022), reported that there was no evidence of the effects of economic support on contraceptive use among those ever sexually active. However, the addition of CSE improved modern contraceptive use and knowledge of modern contraceptives compared to economic support alone among those recently sexually active (). Likewise, Bhushan and colleagues, 2021, reported that cash transfers combined with YFHS and small group counselling increased non-barrier contraception and condom uptake (55). In conclusion, economic support coupled with other SRH interventions improves reproduction health outcomes among young women.
4.5.8 Mass media
Mass media campaigns have the potential to effectively convey SRH messages to a wide population. Due to their ability to reach the masses, these campaigns can specifically target a significant number of and young individuals at a relatively minimal expense. Mass media campaigns typically utilize various platforms such as newspapers, television, radio, magazines, social media, and billboards within sub-Saharan Africa. Additionally, they can also be executed through cinema or emerging digital media channels, which encompass websites, pop-up and banner advertisements, codes, and viral marketing (65). Despite previous research highlighting that mass media campaigns can influence SRH (, 66–68), there have been few attempts to synthesise evidence across young people's reproduction SRH outcomes. Similar to the review by Stead and colleagues, 2019, this study reported mixed evidence of the effect of mass media campaigns on SRH outcomes (65). After adjusting for covariates, Sserwanja and colleagues, 2022, reported that hearing family planning messages on radio and reading texts on mobile phones were statistically associated with increased modern contraceptives uptake among young people in Sierra Leone (69). They further reported that young women who had exposure to family planning messages on radio and mobile phones were more likely to use modern contraceptives when compared to their counterparts without the same mass media exposure. In a different study conducted in Zambia, Sserwanja (67), reported that adolescent girls who had daily access to magazines or newspapers, or internet were less likely to be pregnant or to have had a pregnancy compared with those without the same mass media exposure. After adjusting for HIV-prevention, intervention-exposure, age, education, socioeconomic status, Ahmed and colleagues, 2020, reported that MTVShuga-DS exposure was associated with increased modern contraceptives uptake and consistent condom use among young Ethiopians (66). However, Ahmed and colleagues, 2020, reported that there was no statistically significant association between young women exposed to mass media family planning messages and modern contraceptives uptake in rural areas.
5 Discussion
According to the review, a variety of comprehensive interventions aimed at promoting and providing consistent birth control methods, sexual health education, counselling, and other related services may be able to prevent and control the negative effects associated with risky sexual behaviour among young people in sub-Saharan Africa. It has been demonstrated that raising awareness of SRH and the use of contraceptives lowers the number of unintended births among people. Our findings align with previous assessments that assess the efficacy of different treatments in enhancing teenage self-reported health, and integrate several interventions under a more comprehensive framework to assess their combined effectiveness. A combination of educational and contraceptive interventions may help reduce the rate of unintended pregnancies among adolescents, according to a Cochrane review on primary prevention interventions (school-based, community or home-based, clinic-based, and faith-based). On the other hand, the data from that study showed conflicting results for secondary outcomes, such as the onset of sexual activity, the use of birth control, abortion, childbirth, and STIs (70). Group-based comprehensive risk reduction intervention was found to be an effective technique to lower adolescent pregnancy, HIV, and STIs (71).
Thus, it is essential to raise knowledge of the advantages of contraceptive services and empower young people to make their own decisions about taking contraceptives (72). Combining educational programs in communities and schools with YFHS, health centre outreach initiatives, and media campaigns are examples of interventions with supporting data (73). Reproductive health services are more likely to be accessed when initiatives to increase service quality are combined with community outreach to encourage young people SRH (). Regarding services, a number of program evaluations have detailed challenges that many teenagers encounter, including judgmental provider attitudes, a lack of anonymity, a dearth of alternatives for contraception, and a lack of rules and procedures to safeguard teenagers’ rights to information and services (). Approximately one out of every five nations in the world has official rules that restrict access to contraceptive services: Among the most prevalent limitations, parental consent requirements are in place in 9% of the 186 countries for which data is available; limits based on a minimum age or marital status are in place in 5% of nations (74). Nevertheless, teenagers continue to experience provider prejudice in a variety of ways even in nations without official limits. Because of erroneous concerns that hormone treatments might interfere with a young person's ability to conceive, physicians might not advise hormonal treatments to them, or they might discriminate against single youth because they think they shouldn't engage in sexual activity (75). Recent guidelines for self-care treatments, such over-the-counter oral contraceptive tablets and self-administered injectables, may be able to assist young people in overcoming some of these fundamental obstacles (76).
5.1 Limitations and recommendations
Despite providing a broad overview of the impact of SRH interventions on reproductive health outcomes among young people in sub-Saharan Africa, the focus on a scoping review limited our ability to examine the impacts of interventions in detail and statistically. Statistical synthesis was not possible due to considerable heterogeneity across the large numerous articles and studies included in the review, and the SRH outcomes and interventions reported. To perform a meta-analysis, we recommend that future reviews should focus on one SRH outcome and one intervention.
Practice of medicine and public health interventions supported by mobile devices are effective strategies for improving reproductive health outcomes among young people as they promote SRH services utilization (, , 61, 62). This is partly due to their popularity among young people, privacy, and ability to reach populations with restricted access to direct SRH services (58–60). Mass media campaigns can be utilized to communicate SRH information in mass populations and results from this review highlights that they can improve reproductive health outcomes. Since they are delivered at population level, mass media campaigns can target numerous numbers of young people at relatively low costs (65, 77, 78). Harnessing the advantages of both mHealth and mass media intervention could result in development of low cost, easily accessible, convenient, and age-appropriate strategies for widespread dissemination of SRH information (79). Therefore, it is highly recommended to integrate both mHealth and mass media campaigns in future SRH interventions targeting young people with access to mobile devices.
Despite different PROGRESS-Plus factors being reported to influence the effect of SRH interventions, studies in the review did not include all PROGRESS-Plus factors in their analysis which might have resulted in over estimation or underestimation of the impact of the interventions. Therefore, we recommend future studies with rigorous designs and longer-term follow-up to use all PROGRESS-Plus factors as control variables to measure the impact of SRH interventions and maximize applicability of results.
5.2 Contribution of the findings to the field of study
Young people make up a big proportion of the population in Africa's developing economies, with approximately 20% of the population aged 15–24 years. Despite increased attention to family planning, young people in this region continue to face numerous SRH challenges. The review findings could guide future strategies to improve SRH services’ access and utilization among young people in sub-Saharan Africa thereby protecting them from unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions. The review suggests that community-based programs, mHealth, SRH education, counselling, community health workers’ visits and youth friendly health service interventions generally had a positive effect on child spacing, modern contraceptive knowledge, modern contraceptive use, adolescent sexual abstinence, pregnancy and myths and misperceptions of modern contraception. Evidence from the review has shown that bringing awareness of the benefits of modern contraceptives and enabling young people to make their own decisions regarding contraceptive services is vital. Several studies reported that mHealth is effective in promoting SRH services utilization. Therefore, future SRH strategies could utilise mHealth to improve knowledge, access and uptake of SRH services. Due to their ability to ensure privacy and reach underserved populations, incorporating mobile devices into SRH interventions among young people and utilizing mass media campaigns to reach a wider audience are recommended strategies. Combining these two components in future national SRH interventions has the potential to improve outcomes, positively impacting reproductive health on a larger scale, at relatively lower costs.
6 Conclusion
Community-based programs, mHealth, SRH education, counselling, CHWs, YFHS, economic support and mass media interventions generally had a positive effect on childbirth spacing, modern contraceptive knowledge, modern contraceptive use, adolescent sexual abstinence, pregnancy and myths and misperceptions of modern contraception. This scoping review could inform administrators, managers, and policymakers on the different SRH interventions to implement in different settings.
Statements
Data availability statement
The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
Author contributions
IC: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Resources, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. SS: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Investigation, Methodology, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing. BH: Conceptualization, Data curation, Formal Analysis, Methodology, Supervision, Writing – original draft, Writing – review & editing.
Funding
The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Publisher’s note
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article, or claim that may be made by its manufacturer, is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Supplementary material
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fgwh.2024.1344135/full#supplementary-material.
References
1.
MwaleMMuulaAS. Systematic review: a review of adolescent behavior change interventions [BCI] and their effectiveness in HIV and AIDS prevention in sub-saharan Africa. BMC Public Health. (2017) 17(1):1–9. 10.1186/S12889-017-4729-2/PEER-REVIEW
2.
United Nations. Transforming Our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. (n.d.). Available online at:https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/post2015/transformingourworld/publication(Accessed October 26, 2023).
3.
SinghSDarrochJEVlassoffMNadeauJ. Adding it up: The Benefits of Investing in Sexual and Reproductive Health Care. Report. New York: The Alan Guttmacher Institute (2003).
4.
EzehABankoleAClelandJGarcía-MorenoCTemmermanMZirabaAK. Burden of reproductive ill health. Disease Control Priorities, Third Edition (Volume 2): Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health. Washington, DC: The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank (2016). p. 25–50. 10.1596/978-1-4648-0348-2_CH2
5.
JohnsonN. Comprehensive sexual health assessments for adolescents. Paediatr Child Health. (2020) 25(8):551–551. 10.1093/PCH/PXAA122
6.
ToddNBlackA. Contraception for adolescents. J Clin Res Pediatr Endocrinol. (2020) 12(Suppl 1):28. 10.4274/JCRPE.GALENOS.2019.2019.S0003
7.
BurkmanRTDardanoKL. Use of oral contraceptives for contraception. Prin Gender-Spec Med. (2004) 2:889–98. 10.1016/B978-012440905-7/50354-6
8.
PolisCBradleySEKBankoleAOndaTCroftTNSinghS. Contraceptive Failure Rates in the Developing World: An Analysis of Demographic and Health Survey Data in 43 Countries. New York: GUTTMACHER INSTITUTE (2016). Available online at:https://www.guttmacher.org/report/contraceptive-failure-rates-in-developing-world
9.
StarrsAMEzehACBarkerGBasuABertrandJTBlumRet alAccelerate progress—sexual and reproductive health and rights for all: report of the guttmacher–lancet commission. Lancet. (2018) 391(10140):2642–92. 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30293-9/ATTACHMENT/311D9C15-73F7-485F-A89D-907A407ADDE8/MMC1.PDF
10.
MelesseDYMutuaMKChoudhuryAWadoYDFayeCMNealSet alAdolescent sexual and reproductive health in sub-Saharan Africa: who is left behind?BMJ Global Health. (2020) 5(1):e002231. 10.1136/BMJGH-2019-002231
11.
NinsiimaLRChiumiaIKNdejjoR. Factors influencing access to and utilisation of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review. Reprod Health. (2021) 18(1):135. 10.1186/S12978-021-01183-Y/TABLES/1
12.
MorrisJLRushwanH. Adolescent sexual and reproductive health: the global challenges. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. (2015) 131(Suppl 1):S40–42. 10.1016/J.IJGO.2015.02.006
13.
MchomeZRichardsENnkoSDusabeJMapellaEObasiA. A ‘mystery client’ evaluation of adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in health facilities from two regions in Tanzania. PLoS One. (2015) 10(3):e0120822. 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0120822
14.
SullyEABiddlecomADarrochJERileyTAshfordLSLince-DerocheNet alAdding it up: investing in sexual and reproductive health 2019. Report. New York: Guttmarcher Institute (2020) Available online at: https://www.guttmacher.org/report/adding-it-up-investing-in-sexual-reproductive-health-2019(Accessed March 3, 2022).
15.
World Health Organization. Reproductive Health and Research, and World Health Organization. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use. Geneva: WHO Press, World Health Organization (n.d.) 268.
16.
TsuiAOBrownWLiQ. Contraceptive practice in sub-Saharan Africa. Popul Dev Rev. (2017) 43(Suppl Suppl 1):166. 10.1111/PADR.12051
17.
HaberlandNRogowD. Sexuality education: emerging trends in evidence and practice. J Adolesc Health. (2015) 56(1):S15–21. 10.1016/J.JADOHEALTH.2014.08.013
18.
HaberlandNA. The case for addressing gender and power in sexuality and HIV education: a comprehensive review of evaluation studies. Int Perspect Sex Reprod Health. (2015) 41(1):31–42. 10.1363/4103115
19.
DennoDMHoopesAJChandra-MouliV. Effective strategies to provide adolescent sexual and reproductive health services and to increase demand and community support. J Adolesc Health. (2015) 56(1 Suppl):S22–41. 10.1016/J.JADOHEALTH.2014.09.012
20.
Springboard: A Hands-on Guide to Developing Youth Friendly Centres. (n.d.)
21.
Chandra-MouliVLaneCWongS. What does not work in adolescent sexual and reproductive health: a review of evidence on interventions commonly accepted as best practices. Glob Health Sci Pract. (2015) 3(3):333–40. 10.9745/GHSP-D-15-00126
22.
ThoméeSMalmDChristiansonMHurtigAKWiklundMWaenerlundAKet alChallenges and strategies for sustaining youth-friendly health services — a qualitative study from the perspective of professionals at youth clinics in Northern Sweden. Reprod Health. (2016) 13(1):1–13. 10.1186/S12978-016-0261-6
23.
TriccoACLillieEZarinWO'BrienKKColquhounHLevacDet alPRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation. Ann Intern Med. (2018) 169(7):467–73. 10.7326/M18-0850
24.
O’NeillJTabishHWelchVPetticrewMPottieKClarkeMet alApplying an equity lens to interventions: using PROGRESS ensures consideration of socially stratifying factors to illuminate inequities in health. J Clin Epidemiol. (2014) 67(1):56–64. 10.1016/J.JCLINEPI.2013.08.005
25.
PetticrewMRobertsH. Systematic reviews in the social sciences: a practical guide. Syst Rev Soc Sci: A Prac Guide. (2008) 1:1–336. 10.1002/9780470754887
26.
RoB 2: A Revised Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool for Randomized Trials | Cochrane Bias. (n.d.). Available online at:https://methods.cochrane.org/bias/resources/rob-2-revised-cochrane-risk-bias-tool-randomized-trials (Accessed July 27, 2021).
27.
SterneJAHernánMAReevesBCSavovićJBerkmanNDViswanathanMet alROBINS-I: a tool for assessing risk of bias in non-randomised studies of interventions. Br Med J. (2016) 355:i4919. 10.1136/BMJ.I4919
28.
EdelmanATaylorJOvseikoPVToppSM. The role of academic health centres in building equitable health systems: a systematic review protocol. BMJ Open. (2017) 7(5):e015435. 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2016-015435
29.
MorganGKanesathasanAAkiodeA. Effects of a community-based program on voluntary modern contraceptive uptake among young first-time parents in Cross River State, Nigeria. Glob Health Sci Pract. (2020) 8(4):783–98. 10.9745/GHSP-D-20-00111
30.
LevyMDuffyMPearsonJAkunoJOduongSYemaneberhanAet alHealth and social outcomes of HIV-vulnerable and HIV-positive pregnant and post-partum adolescents and infants enrolled in a home visiting team programme in Kenya. Trop Med Int Health. (2021) 26(6):640–48. 10.1111/TMI.13568
31.
YakubuIGarmaroudiGSadeghiRTolAYekaninejadMSYidanaA. Assessing the impact of an educational intervention program on sexual abstinence based on the health belief model amongst adolescent girls in Northern Ghana, a cluster randomised control trial. Reprod Health. (2019) 16(1):124. 10.1186/S12978-019-0784-8
32.
WondimagegeneYADebelewGTKorichaZB. Effectiveness of peer-led education intervention on contraceptive use, unmet need and demand among secondary school adolescents in Gedeo Zone, South Ethiopia. A study protocol for cluster randomized controlled trial. Clin Epidemiol Glob Health. (2023) 21:101289. 10.1016/J.CEGH.2023.101289
33.
GichangiPGonsalvesLMwaisakaJThiongoMHabibNWaithakaMet alBusting contraception myths and misconceptions among youth in Kwale County, Kenya: results of a digital health randomised control trial. BMJ Open. (2022) 12(1). 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2020-047426
34.
SilvermanJGBrooksMIAliouSJohnsNEChallaSNouhouAMet alEffects of the reaching married adolescents program on modern contraceptive use and intimate partner violence: results of a cluster randomized controlled trial among married adolescent girls and their husbands in Dosso, Niger. Contracept Reprod Med. (2023) 20(1). 10.1186/S12978-023-01609-9
35.
NuwamanyaENalwangaRNuwasiimaABabigumiraJUAsiimweFTBabigumiraJBet alEffectiveness of a mobile phone application to increase access to sexual and reproductive health information, goods, and services among university students in Uganda: a randomized controlled trial. Contraception and Reproductive Medicine. (2020) 5(1). 10.1186/S40834-020-00134-5
36.
Erhardt-OhrenBBrooksMAliouSOsseniAAOumarouAChallaSet alSustained impact of community-based interventions on contraceptive use among married adolescent girls in Rural Niger: results from a cluster randomized controlled trial. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. (2023) 160(2):468–75. 10.1002/IJGO.14378
37.
LemaniCTangJHKoppDPhiriBKumvulaCChikosiLet alContraceptive uptake after training community health workers in couples counseling: a cluster randomized trial. PLoS One. (2017) 12(4):e0175879. 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0175879
38.
FikreeFFAbshiroWKMaiMMHagosKLAsnakeM. Strengthening youth friendly health services through expanding method choice to include long-acting reversible contraceptives for Ethiopian youth. Afr J Reprod Health. (2017) 21(3):37–48. 10.29063/AJRH2017/V21I3.3
39.
WolfHTTeichHGHalpern-FelsherBLMurphyRJAnandarajaNStoneJet alThe effectiveness of an adolescent reproductive health education intervention in Uganda. Int J Adolesc Med Health. (2017) 29(2). 10.1515/IJAMH-2015-0032
40.
MakenziusMLoiUROtienoBOguttuM. A stigma-reduction intervention targeting abortion and contraceptive use among adolescents in Kisumu County, Kenya: a quasi-experimental study. Sex Reprod Health Matters. (2023) 31(1):1–18. 10.1080/26410397.2021.1881208
41.
AkuiyiboSAnyantiJIdoghoOPiotSAmooBNwankwoNet alImpact of peer education on sexual health knowledge among adolescents and young persons in two North Western States of Nigeria. Reprod Health. (2021) 18(1). 10.1186/S12978-021-01251-3
42.
FikreeFFAbshiroWKMaiMMHagosKLAsnakeM. The effect of peer education in dispelling myths and misconceptions about long-acting reversible contraception among Ethiopian youth. Afr J Reprod Health. (2018) 22(3):90–9. 10.29063/AJRH2018/V22I3.10
43.
WHO Health Organization. Using lay health workers to improve access to key maternal and newborn health interventions [Internet]. Technical Report. Geneva: WHO Press (2013). Available online at: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/WHO-RHR-13.09(Accessed April 10, 2024).
44.
MalkinMMicklerAKAjibadeTOCoppolaADemiseEDereraEet alAdapting high impact practices in family planning during the COVID-19 pandemic: experiences from Kenya, Nigeria, and Zimbabwe. Glob Health Sci Pract. (2022) 10(4):e2200064. 10.9745/GHSP-D-22-00064
45.
BrooksMIJohnsNEQuinnAKBoyceSCFatoumaIAOumarouAOet alCan community health workers increase modern contraceptive use among young married women? A cross-sectional study in Rural Niger. Reprod Health. (2019) 16:38. 10.1186/S12978-019-0701-1
46.
ScullTMalikCMorrisonAKeefeE. Promoting sexual health in high school: a feasibility study of A web-based media literacy education program. J Health Commun. (2021) 26(3):147–60. 10.1080/10810730.2021.1893868
47.
GaughranMAsgaryR. On-Site comprehensive curriculum to teach reproductive health to female adolescents in Kenya. J Womens Health (Larchmt). (2014) 23(4):358–64. 10.1089/JWH.2013.4523
48.
HegdahlHKMusondaPSvanemyrJZuluJMGrønvikTJacobsCet alEffects of economic support, comprehensive sexuality education and community dialogue on sexual behaviour: findings from a cluster-RCT among adolescent girls in Rural Zambia. Soc Sci Med. (2022) 306:115–25. 10.1016/J.SOCSCIMED.2022.115125
49.
AlmeidaNTeixeiraAGarciaJMartinsNRamalhoC. Effects of an educational intervention on Angolan adolescents’ knowledge of human reproduction: a quasi-experimental study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. (2019) 16(24):5155. 10.3390/IJERPH16245155
50.
MuneaAMAleneGDDebelewGT. Does youth-friendly service intervention reduce risky sexual behavior in unmarried adolescents? A comparative study in West Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia. Risk Manag Healthc Policy. (2020) 13:941–54. 10.2147/RMHP.S254685
51.
OberthGChinhengoTKatsandeTMhondeRHanischDKaserePet alEffectiveness of the Sista2Sista programme in improving HIV and other sexual and reproductive health outcomes among vulnerable adolescent girls and young women in Zimbabwe. J Adolesc Heal. (2021) 20(2):158–64. 10.2989/16085906.2021.1918733
52.
RosenbergNEBhushanNLVansiaDPhangaTMasekoBNthaniTet alComparing youth-friendly health services to the standard of care through ‘girl power-Malawi’: a quasi-experimental cohort study. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. (2018) 79(4):458–66. 10.1097/QAI.0000000000001830
53.
AnnorCAlatingaKAAbiiroGA. Reproductive health services reproductive health corner knowledge of reproductive health services use of reproductive health services adolescents Ghana. Sex Reprod Healthc. (2021) 27. 10.1016/j.srhc.2020.100583
54.
MbizvoMTKasondaKMuntalimaNCRosenJGInambwaeSNamukondaESet alComprehensive sexuality education linked to sexual and reproductive health services reduces early and unintended pregnancies among in-school adolescent girls in Zambia. BMC Public Health. (2023) 23(1). 10.1186/S12889-023-15023-0
55.
BhushanNLFisherEBGottfredsonNCMamanSSpeizerISPhangaTet alThe mediating role of partner communication on contraceptive use among adolescent girls and young women participating in a small-group intervention in Malawi: a longitudinal analysis. Glob Public Health. (2021) 17(7):1392–405. 10.1080/17441692.2021.1924823
56.
MackNCrawfordTJGuiseJChenMGreyTWFeldblumPJet alStrategies to improve adherence and continuation of shorter-term hormonal methods of contraception. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (2019) 2019(4). 10.1002/14651858.CD004317.PUB5
57.
BakesiimaRBeyeza-KashesyaJTumwineJKChaloRNGemzell-DanielssonKCleeveAet alEffect of peer counselling on acceptance of modern contraceptives among female refugee adolescents in northern Uganda: a randomised controlled trial. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (2021) 16(9):e0256479. 10.1371/JOURNAL.PONE.0256479
58.
PalmerMJHenschkeNBergmanHVillanuevaGMaayanNTamratTet alTargeted client communication via mobile devices for improving maternal, neonatal, and child health. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (2020) 2020(8). 10.1002/14651858.CD013679
59.
PattnaikAMohanDChipokosaSWachepaSKatengezaHMisomaliAet alTesting the validity and feasibility of using a mobile phone-based method to assess the strength of implementation of family planning programs in Malawi. BMC Health Serv Res. (2020) 20(1):1–9. 10.1186/S12913-020-5066-1
60.
SmithCGoldJNgoTDSumpterCFreeC. Mobile phone-based interventions for improving contraception use. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (2015) 2017:CD011159. 10.1002/14651858.CD011159.PUB2
61.
SharmaAMwambaCNg’anduMKamangaVMendamendaMZAzgadYet alPilot implementation of a user-driven, web-based application designed to improve sexual health knowledge and communication among young Zambians: mixed methods study. J Med Internet Res. (2022) 24(7):e37600. 10.2196/37600
62.
MachariaPPérez-NavarroASambaiBInwaniIKinuthiaJNduatiRet alAn unstructured supplementary service data-based MHealth app providing on-demand sexual reproductive health information for adolescents in Kibra, Kenya: randomized controlled trial. JMIR Mhealth Uhealth. (2022) 10(4). 10.2196/31233
63.
ChangW. Decision-Making Power for Women and Girls: Evaluating Interventions in Sexual and Reproductive Health in Sub-Saharan AFRICA(Thesis/dissertation, North Carolina). Dissertation/thesis number: 27997606. Chapel Hill: The University of North Carolina (2020).
64.
GichaneMWWamoyiJAtkinsKBalvanzPMamanSMajaniEet alThe influence of cash transfers on engagement in transactional sex and partner choice among adolescent girls and young women in Northwest Tanzania. Contracept Reprod Med. (2020) 24(1):1–15. 10.1080/13691058.2020.1811890
65.
SteadMAngusKLangleyTKatikireddiVHindsKHiltonSet alMass media to communicate public health messages in six health topic areas: a systematic review and other reviews of the evidence. (Public Health Research, No. 7.8.) Scientific summary. Southampton (UK): NIHR Journals Library (2019). Available online at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK540700/
66.
AhmedMSeidA. Association between exposure to mass media family planning messages and utilization of modern contraceptive among urban and rural youth women in Ethiopia. International Journal of Women’s Health. (2020) 12:719–29. 10.2147/IJWH.S266755
67.
SserwanjaQSepenuASMwambaDMukunyaD. Access to mass media and teenage pregnancy among adolescents in Zambia: a national cross-sectional survey. BMJ Open. (2022) 12:52684. 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052684
68.
ChimbindiNMthiyaneNChidumwaGZumaTDreyerJBirdthistleIet alEvaluating use of mass-media communication intervention ‘MTV-shuga’ on increased awareness and demand for HIV and sexual health services by adolescent girls and young women in South Africa: an observational study. BMJ Open. (2023) 13(5):e062804. 10.1136/BMJOPEN-2022-062804
69.
SserwanjaQTurimumahoroPNuwabaineLKamaraKMusabaMW. Association between exposure to family planning messages on different mass media channels and the utilization of modern contraceptives among young women in Sierra Leone: insights from the 2019 Sierra Leone demographic health survey. BMC Womens Health. (2022) 22(1). 10.1186/s12905-022-01974-w
70.
OringanjeCMeremikwuMMEkoHEsuEMeremikwuAEhiriJE. Interventions for preventing unintended pregnancies among adolescents. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. (2016) 2016:2. 10.1002/14651858.CD005215.PUB3/MEDIA/CDSR/CD005215/IMAGE_T/TCD005215-CMP-005-04.XXX
71.
ChinHBSipeTAElderRMercerSLChattopadhyaySKJacobVet alThe effectiveness of group-based comprehensive risk-reduction and abstinence education interventions to prevent or reduce the risk of adolescent pregnancy, human immunodeficiency virus, and sexually transmitted infections: two systematic reviews for the guide to community preventive services. Am J Prev Med. (2012) 42(3):272–94. 10.1016/J.AMEPRE.2011.11.006
72.
Chandra-MouliVMcCarraherDRPhillipsSJWilliamsonNEHainsworthG. Contraception for adolescents in low and middle income countries: needs, barriers, and access. Reprod Health. (2014) 11(1):1–8. 10.1186/1742-4755-11-1/TABLES/2
73.
KestertonAJDe MelloMC. Generating demand and community support for sexual and reproductive health services for young people: a review of the literature and programs. Reprod Health. (2010) 7(1):1–12. 10.1186/1742-4755-7-25
74.
Reproductive Health Policies 2017: Data Booklet | Population Division. (n.d.). Available online at:https://www.un.org/development/desa/pd/content/reproductive-health-policies-2017-data-booklet (Accessed January 18, 2024).
75.
SoloJFestinM. Provider bias in family planning services: a review of its meaning and manifestations. Glob Health Sci Pract. (2019) 7(3):371–85. 10.9745/GHSP-D-19-00130
76.
WHO Consolidated Guideline on Self-Care Interventions for Health. WHO Consolidated Guideline on Self-Care Interventions for Health: Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (2019). Available online at:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544164/
77.
AboagyeRGAhinkorahBOSeiduAAAduCHaganJEAmuHet alMass media exposure and safer sex negotiation among women in sexual unions in sub-Saharan Africa: analysis of demographic and health survey data. Behav Sci (Basel). (2021) 11(5):63. 10.3390/BS11050063
78.
SilvaMLollDEzouatchiRKassegneSHugues YRNagbeLBet alEvaluating a youth-designed sexual and reproductive health mass and social media campaign in côte d’Ivoire: triangulation of three independent evaluations. Sex Reprod Health Matters. (2023) 31(1). 10.1080/26410397.2023.2248748
79.
NourMMChenJAllman-FarinelliM. Efficacy and external validity of electronic and mobile phone-based interventions promoting vegetable intake in young adults: a systematic review protocol. JMIR Res Protoc. (2015) 4(3):E92. 10.2196/RESPROT.4665
Summary
Keywords
sexual and reproductive health, young people, adolescents, contraception, family planning, sub-Saharan Africa
Citation
Chipako I, Singhal S and Hollingsworth B (2024) Impact of sexual and reproductive health interventions among young people in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review. Front. Glob. Womens Health 5:1344135. doi: 10.3389/fgwh.2024.1344135
Received
25 November 2023
Accepted
29 March 2024
Published
18 April 2024
Volume
5 - 2024
Edited by
Negussie Boti Sidamo, Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
Reviewed by
Bilcha Oumer, Arba Minch University, Ethiopia
Tadele Dana Darebo, Wolaita Sodo University, Ethiopia
Updates
Copyright
© 2024 Chipako, Singhal and Hollingsworth.
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Isaac Chipako i.chipako@lancaster.ac.uk; ichipak@yahoo.co.uk
Disclaimer
All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.