Critical Studies in Sexualities and Reproduction Program, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa.
Department of International Development, London School of Economics & Political Science, London, UK.
Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2022 Dec;159(3):998-1004. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14502. Epub 2022 Oct 17.
Minor girls in Africa face challenges in accessing high-quality contraceptive and abortion services because laws and policies are not child-friendly. Many countries maintain restrictive laws, policies, or hospital practices that make it difficult for minors to access contraception and safe abortion even when the pregnancy would risk their life or health. Further, the clinical guidelines on contraceptive and abortion care are silent, vague, or ambiguous regarding minors' consent. African states should remedy the situation by ensuring that clinical guidelines integrate child rights principles and standards articulated in child rights treaties to enable health providers to facilitate full, unencumbered access to contraceptive and abortion care for minor girls. A sample of clinical guidelines is analyzed to demonstrate the importance of explicit, consistent, and unambiguous language about children's consent to ensure that healthcare workers provide sexual and reproductive health care in a manner that respects child rights.
非洲未成年少女在获取高质量避孕和堕胎服务方面面临挑战，因为相关法律和政策对儿童不够友好。许多国家的法律、政策或医院惯例具有较强的限制性，使得未成年少女即使面临危及生命或健康的妊娠，也难以获得避孕措施和安全的堕胎服务。此外，有关避孕和堕胎护理的临床指南对于未成年人的同意问题，或是保持沉默，或是表述模糊，或是表述含混不清。非洲各国应通过确保临床指南纳入儿童权利条约中阐明的儿童权利原则和标准来纠正这一状况，使卫生保健提供者能够为未成年少女充分、不受阻碍地获得避孕和堕胎护理提供便利。对部分临床指南进行了分析，以展示关于儿童同意的明确、一致和毫不含糊的语言的重要性，以确保医疗保健工作者以尊重儿童权利的方式提供性健康和生殖健康护理。
