We Must Not Overlook Adolescent Health
As the Medical Officer of Health for Lagos’s Agege Local Government, Dr. Akintayo is tasked with paving critical pathways for young people to access sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. In a culture flooded with entrenched taboos surrounding contraception and with a health system that does not always have clear avenues for adolescents to access SRH information and services, Dr. Akintayo knows that finding new, innovative approaches to serve his district’s youth remains imperative.
The girl-defined spaces breaking down taboos
Across Nigeria, girls navigate a complex web of socio-cultural barriers that limit their access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services. Taboos around contraception remain rampant, and girls often lack trusted sources and spaces to turn to for questions about their health and changing bodies.