Higher education, higher risks: YWCA of Ethiopia responds to university women’s sexual and reproductive health needs
Female students in higher learning institutes in Ethiopia face many problems that pose a challenge to the successful completion of their studies. The YWCA of Ethiopia has found typical challenges identified by female university students include economic problems, especially for rural female students, sexual and verbal harassment and lack of sufficient knowledge on reproductive health including HIV.
Unintended pregnancies and abortion are some of the consequences. The social support within the university system is also weak; there is little guidance and counseling for students who find it difficult to cope with the new academic and social environment. The unsafe environment on university campuses, like dormitories situated at inconvenient locations, make female student vulnerable to violence. All of these challenges ultimately contribute to low academic performance thereby increasing female university dropouts.
It is in this context that a university official approached the YWCA of Ethiopia to intervene. Bearing in mind the gap between the favorable government’s policy framework on education, health and gender and the reality on university campuses, the YWCA of Ethiopia felt that there was an urgent need for intervention. Removing the hurdles faced by female students in higher learning institutes has now become the YWCA’s major concern.
With the assistance of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the YWCA of Ethiopia started the ‘Enhancement of Women and Girls Reproductive Rights in Ethiopia’ project that currently runs in two Addis Ababa university campuses.
Supporting underprivileged women
The YWCA of Ethiopia understands that building the capabilities of young women through education and creating healthy citizens whose reproductive health needs and rights are safeguarded is a path to development. To address the economic challenges that sometimes lead female students to engage in paid sex with older men, an empowerment scheme was developed that offers 100 underprivileged students a monthly stipend of Birr 100 (approximately USD 9). With Birr 100, a student is able to buy sanitary pads, shampoo and body lotion and afford photocopying, as most of the books in the library are not sufficient, and the young women prefer to photocopies to read in their dormitory which is safer.
In addition to financial support, the women in the programme also participate in a mentoring and training programme. The programme delivers training on reproductive health, leadership and human rights. The YWCA of Ethiopia already had existing initiatives on violence against women and reproductive health in high schools and used the experience and knowledge from running these programmes to implement the university training.
The condom kiosk
The YWCA of Ethiopia realised that female students had little access to contraceptives and this had a negative impact on their sexual health. Through the contacts established within the university and government Ministries, the YWCA received permission to set up condom kiosks at the Addis Ababa University. In partnership with DKT Ethiopia, a leading contraceptives supplier, the kiosk was set up next to the female dormitory to provide young women with sexual and reproductive health services. The YWCA hopes the location of the kiosk will encourage female students to use the service without shame. It will facilitate access to contraceptives such as condoms, the contraceptive pill and sanitary pads for female students. The project is sustainable; proceeds from the sale of the subsidised products will go to the establishment of a women’s fund.
One of the major challenges of implementing the project was soliciting support from stakeholders working on campus, both governmental and non-governmental organisations. The challenge was overcome by engaging in advocacy work with the NGOs and government representatives to convince them of the importance of encouraging sexual and reproductive health among university students.
Despite the barriers, the YWCA of Ethiopia remains passionate about addressing sexual and reproductive health rights of young women in Ethiopia.
* Republished from the World YWCA Common Concern : Let's talk about SEX . To read even more from this publication and download an online copy, visit here.
