Youth engagement in Contraceptive Use to end early/unwanted pregnancies
CAW is a yearly weekly campaign (from Sept 20th-25th) conducted before the celebration of World Contraception Day on Sept 26th. It was originated by Community Health Boosters, in 2020 and established to mobilize youth networks to join forces towards achieving the world where every pregnancy is wanted through improving awareness of contraception and to enable young people to make informed choices on their sexual and reproductive health. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals, youth institutions and organizations in Rwanda to call for the prevention and elimination of unwanted pregnancies and other distinguished FP/ASRH distinguished challenges.
During 2020 due to Covid-19 prevention restrictive measures, CAW’s inauguration and its very first celebration was conducted through massive social media campaign by a joint force of youth lead NGOs namely Community Health Boosters (CHB), International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP) and Medical Students Association of Rwanda (MEDSAR) and other distinguished partners under the theme “advancing early youth engagement in contraceptive use amidst covid-19 pandemic”. The Campaign was conducted via distinguished social Medias including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, WhatsApp and other individual platforms. “Chile and Ethiopia have shown what can be achieved through strong leadership, good science, adequate investment and effective management. In Chile, Contraceptive use at first intercourse among adolescents rose by 30% between 2007 and 2018. In Ethiopia, contraceptive use by married adolescents aged 15-19 years increased by 29% from 2000 to 2016. On this World Contraception Day, let us commit to learning from the lessons from other countries to strengthen access to and uptake of contraception by adolescents in each of our countries”. Said Dr Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli (Scientist, ASRH & Research Department, WHO Geneva).
“On this World Contraception Day, it is our responsibility to support communities to know more about the benefits of using contraceptives. There is no better time to raise awareness on contraception and safe sex, increase demand for and access to family planning services, and empower young people to make informed decisions as to strive for a world where every pregnancy is wanted”. Said Mark Bryan Schreiner, UNFPA Rwanda Representative.
The campaign was open for everyone to participate by sharing his/her contraceptive use related message in attractive and eye-catching posters addressed to the youth on social media platforms and impacted more than 231,795 people excluding these reached via individual social media accounts especially youth through different social media platforms. All these achievements are thanks to contributions of distinguished partnering individuals, CSOs, youth NGOs, Volunteers, Clubs and Associations, and other influential people to the youth as well as role models.