Explaining regional educational and reproductive health differences in Senegal

• In Event: Challenges to inclusion - a global survey

Proposal

The population of Senegal is relatively young, with more than half (57.67%) of its inhabitants under 18 years (ANSD, 2016). In addition, 47% of this young population is not in school with a majority comprises of girls (USAID, 2017). Social demands such as access to education and health are challenging issues. This work on the perspectives of stakeholders and program beneficiaries on education and its implications for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) enables the African Population and Health Research (APHRC), in partnership with the Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE), to understand issues and obstacles to education and SRHR in Senegal. Senegalese adolescents’ reproductive health indicators remain poor with low access rates and poor use of reproductive health services and contraceptive methods, as well as the continuation of some practices (Guttmacher Institute & IPPF, 2014). As such, the practice of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and incidences of child marriage and teen pregnancy are still rampant in some regions. This continues to severely hamper girls’ schooling, endanger their well-being and violate their basic rights (Equipop, 2018).
The main goal of the project was to improve education outcomes and overall wellbeing of girls in Senegal using a two phased approach. The first phase involved a mapping of programs and actors working on education and SRHR as well as a scoping review to understand the state of education and SRHR in Senegal. Phase 2 comprised an exploratory study to understand better findings from Phase 1 by speaking to key stakeholders and program beneficiaries. This paper analyses phase 2 findings’ with a focus on the causes of regional, age and gender disparities in education and SRHR.
Data were collected by four trained field staff from September to November 2020. A qualitative approach involving key informant interviews (KII) and individual in-depth interviews (IDI) was employed for this exploratory study. For instance, 32 KII were conducted with ministry officials and programs actors while 32 IDI involved adolescents and their parents from selected education and SRHR programs in 6 regions. Selected ministry officials were in charge of gender departments in education and Health ministries while program actors were working on education and SRHR programs highlighted by the phase 1 scoping review and mapping of actors. Adolescents were involved in education and SRHR programs from six regions.
The selection of these regions was based on education (good outcomes in Dakar and Ziguinchor and poor outcomes in Diourbel and Kaffrine) and SRHR indicators (poor outcomes in Ziguinchor and Sedhiou and FGM in Matam). The 96 interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim through Nvivo. Findings show that low enrollment of boys at lower schooling levels are related to socio-economic and cultural aspects. For instance, poverty, early marriage, and teen pregnancy were the most cited terms by participants as negatively affecting completion and retention (Abuya et al., 2020). Key stakeholders revealed that the low economic status of parents and families along with successful programs for girls’ enrollment explain, to some degree, the low rates of boys’ enrollment in primary and middle schools. Stakeholders also revealed that socio-cultural and religious values and beliefs affect completion and retention for both boys and girls, especially girls. Indeed, cultural beliefs and gender norms around roles and responsibilities for boys and girls in the family prevent girls from completing school. The lack of schooling and information on certain precautionary measures expose girls to all sorts of risks that may compromise their futures. As for regional education disparities, findings show that poor outcomes in Diourbel and Kaffrine are due to the cultural and economic aspects. Indeed, the population prefer koranic school and income generating activities to schooling. At the opposite, Dakar and Ziguinchor had diverse population that appreciate education as well as adequate school infrastructures.
Regarding regional SRHR differences, evidence showed that 78% of pregnancies occurred between 12 and 18 years; 26% before age 15. The Southern regions such as Sedhiou (198 pregnancy cases) and Ziguinchor (168 cases), had one of the highest rates of school pregnancy among unmarried adolescents (GEEP & UNFPA, 2019). According to participants’ narratives, there is a cultural tolerance/acceptance of early pregnancies in Ziguinchor and Sedhiou compared to Dakar and Saint-Louis where adolescents benefit from sensitization to avoid unwanted pregnancies. Looking at the reasons behind early marriage, stakeholders revealed that tradition, poverty and religion were supporting or causing that phenomenon in Thiès, Matam and Kaffrine, particularly in Matam where the major ethnic group are deeply rooted in their traditions. Thus, some ethnic groups support early marriages because they magnify the roles of wife and mother while others would choose early marriage as a way to protect their daughters from unplanned pregnancies. In terms of FGM, higher rates were observed in Matam, Kedougou, Tambacounda and Sedhiou with Matam having the highest rate at 61%. For stakeholders, ethnic groups believe that FGM protects against early sexual behaviors.
The study calls for engaging all stakeholders a participatory approach and familiarize stakeholders with the evidence from the scoping review and exploratory study as well as enhance inter-ministerial collaboration to improve girls’ education and SRHR. The regional education disparities call for targeted interventions and scaling of best practices while the socio-cultural and religious factors that impede girls’ education should be urgently addressed for a more inclusive educational space that speaks for all.

Abuya, B., Cissé, R., Faye, C. M., Fall, N. A., Muhia, N., Konté, A. F. B., & Sall, O. K. (2020). Revue documentaire sur l’éducation des filles et les implications de la SRD des adolescentes au Sénégal. https://doi.org/10.1051/mattech/196952110304
ANSD. (2016). Rapport projection de la population du Sénégal.
Equipop. (2018). Prioriser les droits et la santé sexuels et reproductifs (DSSR) des adolescent·e·s et des jeunes dans les programmes de développement (p. 2).
GEEP, & UNFPA. (2019). RAPPORT DES OBSERVATOIRES SUR LES GROSSESSES CHEZ LES ADOLESCENTES EN MILIEU SCOLAIRE.
Guttmacher Institute, & IPPF. (2014). Santé sexuelle et reproductive des jeunes sénégalaises.
USAID. (2017). ETUDE NATIONALE SUR LES ENFANTS ET LES JEUNES HORS DU SYSTEME EDUCATIF AU SENEGAL.

Author

• Ndèye Awa Fall, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC)