Khaberni - Issa Al-Masarwa, the Secretary-General of the Higher Council for Population, confirmed on Monday that the Council is committed to utilizing knowledge and evidence based on research outcomes and data in its operations with partners to foster an environment conducive to policies and programs that support and enhance protective elements for adolescents of both genders, reducing the risks faced by young people and contributing to the advancement of population characteristics.
During a dialogue meeting to review the results of a study on youth knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and their access to and utilization of these services in Jordan, he clarified that it is necessary for comprehensive health education to become part of school curricula and extracurricular activities offered by well-supported and trained teachers, as educators remain a trusted source of knowledge and skills in all educational systems and are highly regarded in Jordanian families and society.
Al-Masarwa highlighted that comprehensive health education on reproductive and sexual health topics during adolescence and youth provides young people with scientifically accurate and age-appropriate health information that aligns with our religious and cultural context, emphasizing also the importance of enhancing the role of parents and family in this area by empowering parents with correct guidance related to their adolescent children’s health, and promoting dialogue between parents and their children.
He noted that the research results presented during the event will contribute to gaining support from policymakers and program developers to accelerate progress towards achieving goal 3.7 and goal 5.3 of the Sustainable Development Goals; ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare services, and eliminating all harmful practices, such as early and forced marriage.
The Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence program organized a dialogue meeting to review the results of a study on youth knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, and their access to and utilization of these services in Jordan, in collaboration with the Higher Council for Population and Share-Net Jordan, with participation from representatives of relevant government bodies, non-governmental and international organizations, civil society, and academia. The longitudinal research findings related to the needs of young people and their knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and services were launched.
The meeting aimed to present the results of the final multi-methodological research and to highlight the challenges faced by youth from all groups, including refugees and persons with disabilities, and how to address the principal determinants affecting their access to knowledge and available health services, and to identify evidence-based priorities for decision-makers and policy and program developers through the formulation of joint recommendations for policies and programs to enhance access to suitable sexual and reproductive health education and services for adolescents and youths of all groups, including the most vulnerable communities, incorporating these into the annual operational plans of the National Strategy for Sexual and Reproductive Health (2020-2030).
The Council indicated that the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) program is a decade-long longitudinal research program, supported by the UK's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office. The program was implemented on a large and diverse sample of adolescents and youths from different communities in the governorates of Amman, Irbid, Jerash, Mafraq, and Zarqa. This sample included teenage boys and girls from remote and less fortunate Jordanian communities, in addition to refugee communities, and groups of youths who dropped out of school and married before 18, and persons with disabilities.
Nicola Jones, Director of the Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) program/Principal Researcher at the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) in the UK, underscored the urgent need for community programs to complement life-skills development, focusing on changing social norms related to gender, meeting the needs of adolescents for information related to their sexual and reproductive health, in addition to the necessity of implementing tailored awareness activities for youth with disabilities, to ensure that mobility challenges, community barriers, or stigma and discrimination do not hinder their rights to health and protection.
