Knowledge Generation

Bangladesh has one of the highest rates of female child marriages in the world, with 2 in 3 girls marrying before 18. It occurs mostly frequently in poor rural households where girls are often undernourished. This physical condition, coupled with early childbirth, creates the risk of premature birth and neonatal (or infant) death. Early childbearing in poor households is also associated with infant malnourishment and higher total fertility, which can create long-term poverty traps.

Normalized sexism in Paraguay. The circle of violence towards women and the intersection of this violence with sexual relations and reproductive relations. Women of different generations living at risk in rural and indigenous areas. Stigmatization and discriminatory attitudes towards women seeking help.

Women in Colombian post-conflict zones are exposed to unwanted pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and gender-based violence due to territorial isolation and little access to information about their rights and safe and timely care routes. Although abortion in Colombia is decriminalized on 3 instances, in rural areas, unlike in urban, safe abortion services confronts health personnel, community leaders and decision makers with their own values around abortion and sexual and reproductive rights.

In Rwanda, 74% of new HIV infections are in young girls (15-19 years) and early pregnancy rates are rising (1). The age of sexual debut is dropping, and adolescents report high levels of coercion in their sexual relationships (1,5,7). A lack of access to SRHR information and non-judgemental advice on sexual and reproductive health and relationships is cited as a primary factor driving these trends, which threaten to reverse the gains made in reducing health, poverty and inequality in the nation.

23 million women drop out of school in India when they start menstruating (1) and others miss an average of 50 days of school each year due to menstruation (2). A study (3) has shown that 70 % of the adolescent girls and women suffer from dysmenorrhea (cramping pain in the lower abdomen) and endures the pain or use pain killers that can have long term effect. Existing solutions do not address dysmenorrhea explicitly which is a critical aspect for girls entering puberty.

Many young women in Kenya lack access to the information and products they need to manage menstruation in a way that is healthy and safe. Poor menstrual health management (MHM) can lead to missed school and work, health complications, and shame surrounding the issue. In addition, young women lack information about Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), job skills, and economic opportunities to generate income and purchase items essential for their health and that of their families.

Lack of awareness of and access to information on SRHR and attitudes of service providers present obstacles to exercising rights even where services and support do exist. Child marriage, rape, unwanted pregnancy, inability to access safe abortion are realities of many girls. The socialisation of children to see gender inequality as normal, the exposure of children to GBV, exploitative sexual relationships and the failure of society to provide SRHR education combine to entrench this reality.

In Rwanda, the needs of young people for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRH&R) information and services are not met.Young people have partial and often inaccurate knowledge about SRH&R and have difficulty in accessing services(1). This is mainly due to the fact that Rwandan Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics lack providers with knowledge of SRH&R, as well as an environment that is youth-friendly. These issues are major obstacles hindering adolescents from accessing the services. (2)

500 children under age 3 currently live incarcerated with their mothers across Mexico. These children, don`t have their basic rights guaranteed, nor rely on services that should allow them to have a normal physical, emotional, cognitive, & social development. These children are repeatedly exposed to inappropriate, dangerous and potentially traumatic events. We work to administer an integrated evidence-informed intervention, "Health Care Model for Mothers and their Children Living in Prison".

PATH's novel infusion pump, the RELI Delivery System, was designed to address many of the barriers surrounding access to infusion pumps in LRS: it does not require electricity or a battery, is inexpensive to manufacture and operate, does not require expensive consumables, and has a simple user interface. We will develop a functional prototype and related job aids to share with stakeholders.