Promoting Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in the Democratic Republic of Congo: Analysis of Youth Sex Education and National Policy for Adolescent Health Documents

Jacques B. O. Emina, University of Kinshasa and INDEPTH Network
Jennifer Blum, Population Council

This study analyzes the Democratic Republic of Congo national sex-education programme and adolescent sexual and reproductive health policy. The documents seem comprehensive; there are gaps on the ground. There are discrepancies between knowledge and behavior, and between the national policy and the implementation. Only 10 out of 512 health zones have started implementing the youth health package in few of their health centers. In conclusion, there are needs for integration between school and youth health centers using mobile clinics, school visits to promote dissociation between sexual intercourse and unintended pregnancy; and between sexual intercourse and STDs/HIV. The 1994 International Conference on Population and Development emphasized that women and men should have the capability to reproduce, the freedom to choose whether, when and how many children to have and be able to enjoy a healthy sex life