Ensuring equal and inclusive rights to access sexual and reproductive health services for adolescent girls with disabilities in Africa

Abstract

In many African societies, access to sexual and reproductive health care services for adolescent girls remains very problematic. This is due to a number of reasons including socio-cultural factors, influence of religion, negative attitudes of health care providers and legal and policy barriers. The situation is further compounded for adolescent girls with disabilities as many of them are perceived as asexual and cannot make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health. Unfortunately, laws and policies related to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of adolescent girls with disabilities tend to exclude their views, reinforcing stigma and discrimination against them. Using the substantive equality and inclusivity lens, this article argues that if adolescent girls with disabilities are to live a fulfilling and healthy life, they must have access to sexual and reproductive health services on an equal basis with others. More importantly, laws and policies to address gaps in access to SRHR services for adolescent girls with disabilities must adhere to rights-based principles such as respect for dignity, non-discrimination, participation and accountability which are entrenched in different human rights instruments. Drawing exemplars from across the region, the paper notes that these human rights instruments require African governments among other things to remove different barriers to access to SRHR services for adolescent girls with disabilities.