Feasibility and Acceptability of Virtual Implementation of a Sexual Reproductive Health Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program for Native Youth.

American Indian/Alaska Native (Native) youth face high rates of substance use, teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Respecting the Circle of Life (RCL), a sexual reproductive health and teen pregnancy prevention program for Native youth and their trusted adult, was adapted and delivered in a virtual format with Native youth in a rural, reservation-based Native community. This manuscript describes the adaptation process, feasibility, and acceptability of virtual program implementation. The manuscript describes the process of rapidly shifting the RCL program into a virtual format. In addition, a mixed-methods process evaluation of implementation forms, program feedback forms, in-depth interviews with participants, and staff debriefing sessions was completed. Results show virtual implementation of RCL is both feasible and acceptable for Native youth and their trusted adults. A key benefit of virtual implementation is the flexibility in scheduling and ability to have smaller groups of youth, which offers greater privacy for youth participants compared to in-person implementation with larger groups. However, internet connectivity did present a challenge for virtual implementation. Ultimately, sexual and reproductive health programs seeking to reach Native youth and families should consider virtual implementation methods, both during and outside of pandemic situations.

Barriers and facilitators regarding the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancy in Ghana: an exploratory qualitative study.

OBJECTIVES: This study explored the perceived barriers and facilitators regarding the implementation of policies and programmes aimed at reducing adolescent pregnancy among health and education professionals ('professionals'), grassroots workers and adolescent girls in Ghana. DESIGN AND SETTING: We employed an exploratory qualitative study design involving interviews with professionals, grassroots workers and adolescent girls in the Central Region of Ghana. PARTICIPANTS: This study involved 15 professionals employed in government or non-governmental organisations, 15 grassroots workers and 51 pregnant/parenting and non-pregnant adolescent girls. DATA ANALYSIS: Thematic analysis was conducted deductively using the ecological framework for understanding effective implementation. RESULTS: Eighteen themes mapped to the five domains of the ecological framework emerged. Perceived barriers included gender inequality, family poverty, stigma, community support for early childbearing and cohabitation, inadequate data systems, lack of collaboration between stakeholders and lack of political will. Effective implementation of community by-laws, youth involvement, use of available data, and collaboration and effective coordination between stakeholders were the perceived facilitators. CONCLUSION: Political leaders and community members should be actively engaged in the implementation of adolescent sexual and reproductive health policies and programmes. Gender empowerment programmes such as education and training of adolescent girls should be implemented and strengthened at both the community and national levels. Community members should be sensitised on the negative effects of norms that support child marriage, gender-based violence and early childbearing.

Adolescent girls, a forgotten population in resource-limited settings in the COVID-19 pandemic: implications for sexual and reproductive health outcomes.

Adolescent sexual and reproductive health is an essential aspect that may be forgotten in the COVID-19 pandemic. Valuable insights gained from previous humanitarian crises indicate undesirable short and long-term adolescent maternal consequences in low resource settings. Young girls are at a higher risk of dropping out of school and being forced into early child marriages and high-risk jobs that predispose them to sexual exploitation and sexual and gender-based violence. Economic recessions, supply chain disruptions and reallocation of resources may limit access and utilisation of services and commodities. The COVID-19 pandemic thus indirectly exposes adolescent girls to multiplied risks of unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections including HIV and Human Papilloma Virus. Sexual and gender-based violence, including female genital mutilation cases may increase as intervention programmes to avert these are disrupted, and the resultant psychosocial and socioeconomic consequences may be devastating. Thus, a pro-active approach is required to come up with frameworks to ensure the minimum initial service package for reproductive health. A multi-sectoral collaborative intersection of relevant stakeholders in adolescent sexual and reproductive health is therefore urgently desired.