Young peoples sexual and reproductive health in the Middle East and North Africa.

In the Middle East and North Africa (MEAN) region young peoples lives today differ dramatically from those of their parents and grandparents. In the past the transition from childhood to adulthood occurred abruptly through early marriage and early childbearing. But today both young men and women spend more years in school and marry later. With puberty also starting earlier largely because of better nutrition the interval between childhood and assuming adult roles has lengthened. During this extended period of adolescence and young adulthood young people may have sexual relations before marriage putting them at risk for unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Young married women also risk contracting these infections even more so because they often marry older men who have had prior sexual relationships and who may have more than one partner after marriage. The risks associated with sexual relationships both married and unmarried are heightened by young peoples lack of access to information and services related to sexual and reproductive health. Programs that provide such information and services would benefit young people whether they are sexually active now or not-preparing them to make more informed decisions about marriage sexual relationships and childbearing. (excerpt)