Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in Schools in Grand Cape Mount County, Republic of Liberia

Abstract

Adolescents in rural Liberia face significant challenges in accessing sexual reproductive health (SRH) information and services, leading to high rates of pregnancies, particularly in impoverished communities. Approximately 14% of girls in Liberia give birth before age 18, with this high-risk pregnancy contributing to the country’s already high maternal mortality rate. Liberia’s healthcare system, still recovering from civil unrest, Ebola, and COVID-19, struggles to address these issues.

In 2022, during a community-based project in Grand Cape Mount County, I met a girl named Ma Musu, a young woman dedicated to promoting SRH education and encouraging her peers to use family planning to avoid teenage pregnancy. Her motivation stemmed from seeing her friends, some as young as 13, become pregnant and drop out of school. Inspired by Ma Musu, this project aims to support similar SRH initiatives in Liberia, enhancing efforts in 10 private, and public schools.

The project will educate adolescents and youth SRH, youth rights, and protection against sexual abuse, drug abuse, STIs, and HIV/AIDS. It will also establish a communication channel between parents and children about sexual education by raising awareness during Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meetings. This will enable parents to communicate with their children about SRH, teen pregnancy prevention and other related issues.

This project will be implemented in Grand Cape Mount County, Liberia, from May 31, 2024, to June 31, 2025, and will involve various activities over twelve months. The total budget of this project is $53,306.