Iranian Adolescent Girl's Challenges in Accessing Sexual and Reproductive Health Information and Services

Adolescents are vulnerable age group due to lack of knowledge and skills to avoid high risk behaviors and lack of access to acceptable and appropriate reproductive health information and services. This study was done to explore the views and experiences of adolescent girls and key adults in conjunction with the Iranian adolescent girl's challenges in accessing SRH information and services.

This is a qualitative study. Data were gathered through semi structured interviews and focus groups with 247 adolescent girls and 71 key adults including health policymakers, governmental, nongovernmental and international health programs managers, health providers, mothers, teachers, sociologists and clergy in four Iranian cities. Data were coded and categorized using content analysis by MAXQDA10.

The main challenges identified were classified in four categories: (1) political challenges such as lack of an adopted strategy by the government; (2) social and cultural challenges such as taboos; (3) structural and administrative challenges such as inappropriate structure of the health system; and (4) non-use of religious potential.

In Iran, the concept of adolescent reproductive health has not been well understood and is very controversial. Government leaders and policymakers should try to provide reproductive health services that are consistent with the community’s cultural and religious values for adolescent girls to overcome the challenges of access.