Fight against AIDS: The association for the fight against AIDS (ALCS) will draw up an inventory of the supply and structural obstacles to access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for young people.
The Association for the Fight against AIDS (ALCS) will carry out a complete and in-depth diagnosis of the offer of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Morocco, with particular emphasis on the needs and access of young people in their diversity. It is also about identifying the structural, institutional, social, cultural and geographic obstacles that hinder their equitable and effective access to these services. Note that Morocco has adopted a National Sexual and Reproductive Health Strategy (SNSSR) 2021-2030, which today constitutes the national reference framework for the planning, coordination and improvement of sexual and reproductive health interventions. This strategy aims to guarantee universal, equitable and inclusive access to quality SRH services, while paying particular attention to vulnerable groups, including young people, people with disabilities and socially marginalized populations.
The public SRH offer is mainly structured around first-level health centers, school and university health services, and prevention and family planning systems put in place by health authorities. However, despite the availability of a range of essential services (family planning, STI screening and treatment, HIV services, psychological support, prenatal and postnatal care, etc.), the effective use of these services by young people remains limited. Multifactorial, social, cultural, organizational, geographic and economic barriers hinder young people’s access to SRH information and services. These barriers include stigma, fear of lack of confidentiality, taboos around sexuality, insufficient services adapted to the specific needs of young people, as well as territorial disparities in access.
These findings were recently confirmed by a survey conducted by the ALCS which revealed that, despite their strong hyper connectivity, young people remain largely disconnected from SRH services, due to a lack of reliable information (More than two thirds of young people designate a digital source as their main information channel). The survey also highlighted a lack of awareness of existing services (40%), a fear of judgment, as well as a growing demand for more accessible services (34%), anonymous, integrated and adapted to their realities. The ALCS believes that these recent data reinforce the importance of carrying out an in-depth inventory in order to better understand the needs, obstacles and expectations of young people.
