Access to reproductive health and HIV services among young mothers in Tanzania

This report presents findings from a Population Council study that examined the experiences of young mothers in Tanzania with accessing reproductive health and HIV services during pregnancy, delivery/pregnancy termination, and the postpartum period. The overall objective of the study was to generate evidence on access to reproductive health and HIV services among young mothers aged 12–19 years in Tanzania in order to inform programming and actions to better meet their needs. It specifically examined their experiences with accessing reproductive health (safe motherhood and contraception) and HIV (testing and counseling, PMTCT, antiretroviral therapy, and early infant diagnosis) services as well as provider attitudes and practices toward the provision of these services to young mothers. The report concludes with implications of the findings, including the need for reaching young women with appropriate information before they start engaging in risky sexual behavior; and identifies individual-, household-, and facility-level factors that influence the use of services and pregnancy outcomes