MY SRH Initiative

Beyond the Basics: Transforming How We Measure and Improve SRH Services for Youth

Young people face unique challenges when it comes to sexual and reproductive health (SRH), yet current assessments of SRH services often fail to capture what truly matters to them. Metrics for Management (M4M), in collaboration with a globally diverse group of youth leaders, is working to change this narrative.

Through youth-led insights, we uncovered critical gaps in privacy, confidentiality, and provider bias, which remain significant barriers to accessing quality SRH services. These challenges, particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, can prevent young people from receiving the care and support they need. To address these concerns, we launched the Measuring Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (MY SRH) Initiative, with the aim of developing a tool that assesses SRH services through youth priorities.

Beyond the Basics: Transforming How We Measure and Improve SRH Services for Youth

Young people face unique challenges when it comes to sexual and reproductive health (SRH), yet current assessments of SRH services often fail to capture what truly matters to them. Metrics for Management (M4M), in collaboration with a globally diverse group of youth leaders, is working to change this narrative.

Through youth-led insights, we uncovered critical gaps in privacy, confidentiality, and provider bias, which remain significant barriers to accessing quality SRH services. These challenges, particularly prevalent in low- and middle-income countries, can prevent young people from receiving the care and support they need. To address these concerns, we launched the Measuring Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health (MY SRH) Initiative, with the aim of developing a tool that assesses SRH services through youth priorities.

Central to this initiative is the Youth Advisory Group (YAG)—a collective of young advocates, clinicians, and experts. Using participatory convening methods, we created an inclusive space where YAG members could voice concerns and define what quality care looks like for youth. During their first meeting at the Women Deliver Conference 2023, these participatory methods allowed us to discover priorities that might otherwise have remained hidden. The YAG further highlighted the critical importance of privacy, confidentiality, and addressing provider bias, underscoring that young people’s SRH needs must be met in a supportive and respectful manner.

The YAG meeting began by identifying the core measurement challenges and further defining key concepts such as privacy, confidentiality, and provider bias:

• Privacy: Applies to all service channels, including physical and digital records, as well as ensuring auditory and visual privacy.
• Confidentiality: Requires well-designed policies and workflows to guarantee that young people’s private health information is not disclosed without their consent.
• Provider Bias: Including discrimination, stigma, and lack of knowledge, can severely limit access to quality SRH services. High levels of bias can result in poor quality of care, denial of services, and reduced access to essential care.

The YAG then prioritized the adolescent and youth SRH services where these concepts should be measured. Focusing on the service areas most important to young people allows us to enhance the quality of SRH services in ways that are both meaningful and impactful.

This youth-driven approach is generating real solutions by actively listening to the voices that matter most—young people themselves. Together, we are building a future where SRH services are more accessible, equitable, and impactful for all youth.