March 2025 – December 2027
Intervention area
Sierra Leone
FINANCING
PARTNERS
Context:
- In 2019, 21% of teenage girls in Sierra Leone had a child or were pregnant, and 82% of these pregnancies were unwanted (DHS 2016).
- In 2019, Sierra Leone had 717 maternal deaths per 100,000 births, one of the highest rates in the world. An estimated 40% of these maternal deaths occur in adolescent girls, with obstetric complications representing the 1st cause of death in this population (DHS 2019).
- Early pregnancy exposes adolescent girls to high risks of obstetric complications and maternal mortality, as well as stigmatisation and social and family rejection.
- Gender-based violence (GBV) affects 53% of women over the age of 15 in Sierra Leone, increasing the risk of early pregnancy.
- Excision is still common, affecting around 90% of women.
- Shortcomings in the training of carers, the organisation of healthcare structures and the lack of referral systems complicate care provision.
- Policies exist, such as the national strategy to reduce teenage pregnancies, but they are not sufficiently implemented.
- Social norms and the domination of the medical establishment limit the autonomy of adolescent girls and young women in managing their own health.
General objective:
To help reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity in two districts of Sierra Leone.
Beneficiaries
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Direct beneficiaries: In total, more than 200 people will benefit directly from the project.
- 30 health professionals in 8 health centres trained and coached in technical skills and knowledge of DSSRs.
- 80 mother leaders and 46 community health workers trained.
- 8 tutors identified and trained.
- 8 members of the OSC CAWeC trained.
- 50 members of health facility management committees trained.
- 10 representatives of the supervisory teams from the health districts.
- 15 representatives from the RCH, NSRTP and quality of care unit involved.
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Indirect beneficiaries:
- 50,000 young people (men and women) in the intervention zones and, more specifically, 2,000 adolescents and young women/men aged between 10 and 24 receiving SRH consultations in the targeted health facilities.
- 9,000 pregnant women in supported health centres, including 800 teenagers and young women aged 10-24 giving birth in supported health centres.
Results
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- R1: Adolescents and young people in the target areas have improved their knowledge and skills in SRH and gender equity.
- R2: The supply of SRH care and services is better adapted to the needs of young people and of higher quality in the project areas.
- R3: The tools developed, the knowledge generated and the good practices identified are shared with national, regional and EU stakeholders.