Half of the population in Burkina Faso is under the age of 15. Many of these young people will become sexually experienced in their teens and, thus, will be at risk of or experience an unplanned pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection (STI), including HIV/AIDS. To minimize these risks and secure a healthy future for adolescents, it is necessary that policymakers, journalists, service providers and advocates have solid evidence regarding the sexual and reproductive health needs of Burkinabè youth. This Research in Brief documents what is known about Burkinabè adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health behaviors and needs, with particular emphasis on HIV/AIDS, and points the way forward toward improving policies and programs.
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