A multi-year initiative (2014-2017) to improve and scale up youth-friendly health services and enhance quality of care for young people is being conducted by UNFPA ESARO and the IPPF Africa Regional Office. The initiative includes the development and approval of the research protocol and a review of existing youth-friendly health service (YFHS) guidelines and standards, and assessment of their implementation in 23 countries within the East and Southern Africa (ESA) region.
Desk reviews were conducted in 12 countries as well as facility assessments, key stakeholder interviews, focus group discussions and exit interviews with young clients, while 1countries undertook desk reviews only. The findings and recommendations from the national reports have been validated in all countries and incorporated into a regional synthesis report. Key findings on policy and legislative frameworks include that almost all of the countries have specific policies or strategies in place on adolescent and/or youth health, especially for sexual and reproductive health.
