The Health Status of Adolescents in Ecuador and the Country's Response to the Need for Differentiated Healthcare for Adolescents

Overview

Journal Reprod Health

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Reproductive Medicine

Date 2017 Mar 2

PMID 28245855

Citations 13

Authors

Joar Svanemyr

Susana Guijarro

Betzabe Butron Riveros

Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Adolescents face a range of health problems but many barriers block their access to health services, and in particular to sexual and reproductive health services. The objective of this study was to assess the health needs of adolescents in Ecuador and to draw lessons from the ways the country has responded to their need for differentiated care.

Methods: We conducted a literature review and consulted key stakeholders.

Results: Adolescents in Ecuador today have a wide range of health care needs, in particular related to sexual and reproductive health. A major concern is the high rates of adolescent pregnancy. A national programme was established in 2007 to offer differentiated health care for adolescents-an effort that featured specially trained staff, enclaved facilities, respect for adolescents' privacy and confidentiality, a friendly atmosphere, and a dedication to establishing trust. It resulted in rapid increases in visits by young persons both for preventive and curative services. In 2011, the government initiated a model for "integrated family and community health care" which led to a disruption of the central support for capacity building and follow-up of adolescent friendly services.

Conclusion: The Ecuadorian experience has demonstrated the need for institutionalised differentiated care for adolescents who are facing a wide range of health issues.

Citing Articles

Policies for expanding family planning coverage: lessons from five successful countries.

Hellwig F, Moreira L, Silveira M, Vieira C, Rios-Quituizaca P, Masabanda M Front Public Health. 2024; 12:1339725.

PMID: 38808004 PMC: 11131167. DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1339725.

Sexual Assertiveness and Its Correlates in Emerging Adults: An Exploratory Study in Cuenca (Ecuador).

Lopez-Alvarado S, Prekatsounaki S, Van Parys H, Enzlin P Int J Sex Health. 2024; 34(4):679-690.

PMID: 38596386 PMC: 10903662. DOI: 10.1080/19317611.2022.2106527.

Prevalence and factors associated with adolescent pregnancies in Zambia: a systematic review from 2000-2022.

Malunga G, Sangong S, Saah F, Bain L Arch Public Health. 2023; 81(1):27.

PMID: 36805786 PMC: 9940412. DOI: 10.1186/s13690-023-01045-y.

Trends in teenage motherhood in Ecuador: challenges and inequalities.

Espinel-Flores V, Gotsens M, Puig-Barrachina V, Leon-Gomez B, Peralta A, Perez G Int J Public Health. 2020; 65(9):1647-1655.

PMID: 33145658 PMC: 7608400. DOI: 10.1007/s00038-020-01517-w.

Evaluating and Improving upon Ecuador's Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention Policies in an Era of Increased Urgency.

Herran K, Palacios I Ann Glob Health. 2020; 86(1):110.

PMID: 32944507 PMC: 7473192. DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3030.

References

Guijarro S, Naranjo J, Padilla M, Gutierez R, Lammers C, Blum R . Family risk factors associated with adolescent pregnancy: study of a group of adolescent girls and their families in Ecuador. J Adolesc Health. 1999; 25(2):166-72. DOI: 10.1016/s1054-139x(99)00020-8. View

Chandra-Mouli V, Svanemyr J, Amin A, Fogstad H, Say L, Girard F . Twenty years after International Conference on Population and Development: where are we with adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights?. J Adolesc Health. 2014; 56(1 Suppl):S1-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.09.015. View

Cordova Pozo K, Chandra-Mouli V, Decat P, Nelson E, De Meyer S, Jaruseviciene L . Improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Latin America: reflections from an International Congress. Reprod Health. 2015; 12:11. PMC: 4320614. DOI: 10.1186/1742-4755-12-11. View

Bearinger L, Sieving R, Ferguson J, Sharma V . Global perspectives on the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents: patterns, prevention, and potential. Lancet. 2007; 369(9568):1220-31. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60367-5. View

Goicolea I, Wulff M, Ohman A, San Sebastian M . Risk factors for pregnancy among adolescent girls in Ecuador's Amazon basin: a case-control study. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2010; 26(3):221-8. DOI: 10.1590/s1020-49892009000900006. View

Andrade S, Ochoa-Aviles A, Lachat C, Escobar P, Verstraeten R, Van Camp J . Physical fitness among urban and rural Ecuadorian adolescents and its association with blood lipids: a cross sectional study. BMC Pediatr. 2014; 14:106. PMC: 3997748. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2431-14-106. View

Tylee A, Haller D, Graham T, Churchill R, Sanci L . Youth-friendly primary-care services: how are we doing and what more needs to be done?. Lancet. 2007; 369(9572):1565-1573. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)60371-7. View

Dick B, Ferguson J, Chandra-Mouli V, Brabin L, Chatterjee S, Ross D . Review of the evidence for interventions to increase young people's use of health services in developing countries. World Health Organ Tech Rep Ser. 2006; 938:151-204. View

De Meyer S, Jaruseviciene L, Zaborskis A, Decat P, Vega B, Cordova K . A cross-sectional study on attitudes toward gender equality, sexual behavior, positive sexual experiences, and communication about sex among sexually active and non-sexually active adolescents in Bolivia and Ecuador. Glob Health Action. 2014; 7:24089. PMC: 4095758. DOI: 10.3402/gha.v7.24089. View

10.

Ganchimeg T, Ota E, Morisaki N, Laopaiboon M, Lumbiganon P, Zhang J . Pregnancy and childbirth outcomes among adolescent mothers: a World Health Organization multicountry study. BJOG. 2014; 121 Suppl 1:40-8. DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.12630. View

11.

Beckwith J . Knowledge, attitudes, and practices in reproductive and sexual health: Valle de los Chillos, Rumiñahui County, Province of Pichincha, Ecuador. Mcgill J Med. 2008; 9(2):119-25. PMC: 2323528. View

12.

Lundgren R, Amin A . Addressing intimate partner violence and sexual violence among adolescents: emerging evidence of effectiveness. J Adolesc Health. 2014; 56(1 Suppl):S42-50. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.08.012. View

13.

Denno D, Hoopes A, Chandra-Mouli V . Effective strategies to provide adolescent sexual and reproductive health services and to increase demand and community support. J Adolesc Health. 2014; 56(1 Suppl):S22-41. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2014.09.012. View

14.

Goicolea I, Coe A, Hurtig A, San Sebastian M . Mechanisms for achieving adolescent-friendly services in Ecuador: a realist evaluation approach. Glob Health Action. 2012; 5. PMC: 3409349. DOI: 10.3402/gha.v5i0.18748. View

15.

Goicolea I, Wulff M, San Sebastian M, Ohman A . Adolescent pregnancies and girls' sexual and reproductive rights in the amazon basin of Ecuador: an analysis of providers' and policy makers' discourses. BMC Int Health Hum Rights. 2010; 10:12. PMC: 2889876. DOI: 10.1186/1472-698X-10-12. View

16.

Kieling C, Baker-Henningham H, Belfer M, Conti G, Ertem I, Omigbodun O . Child and adolescent mental health worldwide: evidence for action. Lancet. 2011; 378(9801):1515-25. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60827-1. View

17.

Patton G, Coffey C, Cappa C, Currie D, Riley L, Gore F . Health of the world's adolescents: a synthesis of internationally comparable data. Lancet. 2012; 379(9826):1665-75. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60203-7. View

18.

Quinlan-Davidson M, Sanhueza A, Espinosa I, Escamilla-Cejudo J, Maddaleno M . Suicide among young people in the Americas. J Adolesc Health. 2013; 54(3):262-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2013.07.012. View