Sexual and reproductive health as a way to promote equity: highlights from a study with African migrants in Portugal?

One of the great challenges of this century made clear by the ‘Millennium Goals’ is to ensure access to health and education "for all", and to achieve the eradication of poverty and inequities. Actions are still heavily dominated by deficit approaches rather than emphasising on well-being.

This work used a mix methodology:  the questionnaire from the Portuguese Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Survey (www.hbsc.org) a WHO collaborative study. The sample was selected from schools located in low-income neighborhoods in Lisbon with a high number of African migrants. A quantitative study was followed by a qualitative study, using focus group in order to in depth understanding the cultural relevance of the quantitative findings. Questionnaires were completed by 919 adolescents (52.3% females), and showed that 19.2% were migrant foreigners from African Portuguese-speaking countries: Cape Verde (60.8%), Mozambique (1.6%), Angola (16.8%), S. Tome (8%), and Guinea-Bissau (14.8%).  Afterwards focus groups were held: four with adolescents (N=45), three with health and education professionals (N=25), and one with parents (N=6). Compared with Portuguese adolescents, African migrant teens begin sexual intercourse earlier in adolescence and use condom less frequently. They tend to get information about safer sex from brochures and TV programmes. They talk less frequently about sexual issues with their parents. The national HBSC data highlighted that youths prefer to talk to friends about sexual issues, and do not feel at ease with adults, they prefer to read extra information keeping privacy. In this way: 1) information is not always reliable 2) information alone may not increase their protecting competences 3) a few prejudices make things more difficult (gender inequity). Debate will focuses on 2 potential assets:  the promotion of personal skills and social capital. Will be highlighted how an asset based approach can contribute to the broader goals of policies for health and development.