Submission ID 118500
| Issue/Objective | UNFPA, in collaboration with the Government of Guyana, is implementing a multi-phase initiative to reduce adolescent pregnancy among Indigenous girls. Key strategies include improving SRHR knowledge and access to services, including contraceptives. A formative study was conducted to explore the drivers of adolescent pregnancy in high-prevalence Indigenous regions. Using a human-centered design approach, these findings informed the co-creation of community-led interventions. This presentation highlights the results of the formative study, revealing how harmful, intersectional gender and power dynamics contribute to early pregnancy in these communities. |
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| Methodology/Approach | A qualitative study was conducted in Regions 1 and 8-areas with the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in Guyana-to explore the drivers, barriers, and enablers influencing SRH access among Indigenous adolescent girls. Data collection included 17 family case studies (49 participants), 38 key informant interviews, and 12 focus group discussions (six each with adolescent girls and boys) across nine remote towns and villages. Participants included recently pregnant and non-pregnant adolescents and members of their support networks-parents, partners, siblings, providers, teachers, and community leaders. Body mapping and interviews were used to elicit experiences, and grounded theory guided thematic analysis. |
| Results | The study found that adolescent pregnancy among Indigenous girls is driven by intersecting social, cultural, and economic factors. More critically, underlying issues such as incest, child abuse, intimate partner violence, and a culture of silence and normalization make early pregnancy more persistent and difficult to address. Effective prevention strategies must prioritize community engagement and ensure that government welfare and social protection systems are responsive and accountable to the communities they serve. |
| Discussion/Conclusion | This study highlights the need for adolescent pregnancy interventions that address structural and cultural root causes, especially in Indigenous communities facing intersecting vulnerabilities. Findings call for integrated approaches linking SRHR with child protection, social welfare, and education, while centering Indigenous youth in design and accountability. The initiative showcases how human-centered design can empower marginalized groups to co-create sustainable, community-led solutions. This approach can be scaled across similar setting in the Caribbean and Latin America. |
| Presenters and affiliations | Adriane Martin Hilber Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute. Batula Abdi United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Adler Bynoe United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Michael Atim United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Mandy La Fleur United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Batula Abdi United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) |
