Adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Maputo - Exploring perceptions of social vulnerability to early pregnancy and HIV

Abstract: The sexual and reproductive health of adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa is a widely recognized development issue which places a high burden on women as well as countries’ social and economic development. This constitutes a particularly urgent issue in Mozambique with elevated numbers of adolescent pregnancy and one of the world’s highest HIV prevalence. This study focuses sexual and reproductive health in Mozambique by examining conditions of social vulnerability. Through qualitative interviews, the aspects of vulnerability are examined through the perceptions and explanations of adolescent girls participating in the Action for Adolescent Girls program in Maputo City. Moreover, the study explores how sociocultural norms influence these perceptions, and how participation in the program might impact these perceptions.