![]() For examples of how HIPs can be enhanced through the inclusion of adolescent-responsive elements, please see the ARCS Appendix document. An enhancement is a practice that can be implemented in conjunction with HIPs to further intensify their impact. 4, 7, 12, 25-30 A systems approach implies that policies, procedures, and programs across the entire health system are adapted to respond to the diverse needs and preferences of adolescents.ĪRCS is an “enhancement to high-impact practices in family planning” as identified by the HIP Technical Advisory Group. The term adolescent-responsive contraceptive services (ARCS) signals an evolution from traditional stand-alone models of adolescent-friendly services towards a systems approach to making existing contraceptive services adolescent-responsive by incorporating elements with demonstrated effectiveness for increasing adolescent contraceptive use (Box 2). Establishing adolescent-responsive contraceptive services (ARCS) is emerging as a more scalable and sustainable way to meet adolescents’ needs for contraceptive information and services. 25 However, traditional models of specialized service delivery for adolescents have proven difficult to sustain and scale (Box 1). There is evidence that adolescent-friendly services, when well-designed and well-implemented, can help increase access to and use of contraception. 10 With 1.25 billion adolescents, increasing to 1.35 billion in 2050, 11 and countries striving to achieve universal health coverage, 1,12 health systems must go beyond piecemeal approaches to institutionalize service delivery that acknowledges adolescents as distinct from other age groups and addresses the barriers that limit adolescents’ access to and use of contraception (Figure 1). For example, about half of all pregnancies among adolescent females (15 – 19 years) in developing regions being unintended. 5-9 This contributes to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. 3,4 However, many countries continue to invest in interventions that are ineffective at increasing contraceptive use (e.g., youth centers), demonstrate mixed effects (e.g., peer education), or are challenging to sustain and bring to scale (e.g., separate spaces for young people within health facilities). 2 Adolescents need a range of supports to remain well, to transition safely into adulthood, and to adopt lifelong healthy behaviors a key support is access to contraceptive information and services. Adolescence, defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) as ages 10 to 19, is a time of tremendous physical, cognitive, and social change 1 and when many people initiate sexual activity.
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