The Voices of Children and Young People

Figure 6:
Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
Related Concerns by Region
1%
27%
4%
Europe
30%
Regional Differences
Figure 6 shows the shares of different queries regarding sexual
and reproductive health and rights within individual regions. Data
reveals that requests for information on sexuality and the facts of
life feature prominently in all regions, indicating that large numbers
of children and young people find their way to the information they
want despite social and other constraints.
8%
9%
8%
41%
5%
29%
9%
17%
8%
1%
6%
13%
1% 7%
Africa
1%
Asia
Pacific
12%
1%
7%
46%
36%
2%
22%
Next, the main feature of the data related to sexual and reproductive
health and rights from the Americas and the Caribbean is a high
proportion of contacts concerning pregnancy. Sexual identity also
seems to be a relatively more prominent topic in this region than
elsewhere.
The data reported by child helplines operating in Africa shows high
rates for information about sexuality, the facts of life and STIs/STDs.
In Asia-Pacific a large share of children and young people’s contacts
concerned information on sexuality and the facts of life. There is also
a disproportionately high share of unspecified contacts, suggesting
that data reporting could be improved for better global comparability
and a clearer picture of children and young people’s concerns.
The data from Europe shows large similarities with the global
data - unsurprisingly since the vast majority of contacts related to
sexual and reproductive health and rights are made in Europe, as
mentioned above. The main subcategories of those contacts made in
Europe are sexuality and the facts of life and pregnancy.
4%
14%
Americas
and the
Caribbean
1%
17%
11%
5%
6%
1% 9%
3%
MENA
In MENA, there are relatively low contact rates for pregnancy and
very high rates for masturbation, indicating a real need for children
and young people to discuss their sexual needs and expressions,
while cultural, religious and societal norms can strongly restrict the
discussion on sexuality. They may restrain boys and girls from liaising
in a relaxed manner and cause them to suppress feelings of sexuality.
38%
36%
Contraception
Information about Sexuality and Facts of Life
Masturbation
Pregnancy
Sexual Fantasy
Sexual Identity
STIs / STDs
Unspecified / Other
Although the underlying needs of children and
young people for information and support regarding
sexual and reproductive health and rights are fairly
constant around the world, the obstacles to these
needs being met are locally specific. A great related
strength of child helplines is that they are locally
resourced and locally run. Moreover, they have a
deep understanding of the subtleties involved in
addressing the needs of children and young people
in the area of sexual and reproductive health and
rights, in the environment in which those children
and young people live.
20