Understanding Sources and Quality of Contraceptive Care Among Adolescents: A Global Analysis

Tess Shiras, Abt Associates
Sarah E. K. Bradley , Abt Associates

The unique contraceptive needs of adolescents are increasingly recognized among the global family planning community. Despite recent progress to meet these needs, approximately half of adolescent pregnancies in low-income areas are unintended. Recent policy reports on adolescent contraception emphasize the need for high-quality data to inform efforts to increase adolescent contraceptive use, access, and choice. We conducted a secondary analysis of Demographic and Health Survey data in 28 countries to examine where adolescents obtain their contraceptives, how sources vary by method and socioeconomic status, and the quality of care received by adolescents. Our results elucidate the important role that the private sector plays in helping adolescents meet their reproductive intentions. Policymakers and program implementers must integrate youth-friendly and quality improvement interventions—which typically focus on public sources—into both public and private sources, including non-clinical private sector sources, as they strive to meet contraceptive demand and increase access among youth.

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 Presented in Session 1. Fertility, Family Planning, Sexual Behavior, & Reproductive Health 1