Amman, Jan. 26 (Petra) -- The Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) program held a dialogue session to present findings from a study on young people’s knowledge of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and access to services, and to launch results from longitudinal research on youth needs.
The event was organized in cooperation with the Higher Population Council (HPC) and Share-Net Jordan.
The session showcased final findings from a multi-method research effort, highlighting barriers facing diverse youth groups, including refugees and persons with disabilities, and ways to address key determinants affecting access to information and available health services.
Organizers said the work also supports the inclusion of at-risk communities in the annual implementation plans of Jordan’s National Reproductive and Sexual Health Strategy (2020–2030).
HPC Secretary General Issa Masarweh said the council is committed to using evidence from research and data with partners to shape supportive policies and programs that strengthen protection factors for adolescent girls and boys and reduce risks, contributing to improved population outcomes.
Comprehensive health education should be integrated into school curricula and extracurricular activities delivered by well-trained educators, he said, noting that teachers remain a trusted source of knowledge and skills in the education system and highly regarded within families and Jordanian society.
Masarweh said age-appropriate, scientifically accurate SRH education that aligns with Jordan’s religious and cultural context can equip young people with reliable information, stressing the importance of enhancing parents’ and families’ roles through sound guidance and stronger dialogue with children.
He said the research presented can support progress toward Sustainable Development Goals targets 3.7 and 5.3 related to access to SRH services and rights.
GAGE Director and Principal Researcher at the UK-based Overseas Development Institute, Nicola Jones, highlighted the need for complementary community programs that build life skills and respond to adolescents’ SRH information needs.
She also called for targeted awareness activities for youth with disabilities to ensure that mobility constraints, social barriers, stigma, and discrimination do not impede their rights to health and protection.
GAGE is a decade-long research program supported by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.
//Petra// AO
