Access Without Barriers

Inclusive Media and Community Action: Connecting Teens with Disabilities to Sexual and Reproductive Health Services

Topic: Sexual and Reproductive Rights
Location: Mozambique

Access Without Barriers: Drama about youth and their community engages teens with disabilities and health care workers.

Teens with disabilities face challenges accessing sexual and reproductive health.

Storytelling to Improve Sexual Health Access for Youth with and without Disabilities

In 2020, Rising Impact launched Access Without Barriers in Mozambique’s to improve sexual health and reproductive health (SRH) education and access for adolescents with and without disabilities. This holistic initiative combines inclusive media content, community action, healthcare provider training, and health center upgrades to ensure that no teen is left behind.

Mobile health units further expand the programs’ reach and bring services directly to adolescents in communities that are the hardest to reach.

At the heart of the program is an entertaining radio drama, teen-produced live shows in local languages, social media, and short videos that include sign language, reaching teens with and without disabilities and connecting them to essential information and services.

Thanks to the program, I now use condoms in all sexual relations and get regular HIV tests, as advised by health clinicians.

— Josse*, program participant
*Name changed for privacy

Content

Radio Drama
PSA Videos
Radio spots

Conversation

Social media
Call-in Shows

Action

Training Guides
Community Theater
Physical Improvements to Health Centers

In partnership with TV Surdo, ICRH (International Centre for Reproductive Health), and local health services, the program also renovated health centers and equipped healthcare providers with tools and training to offer inclusive SRH services.

Scene from video animation about sexual health inclusive of people with disabilities

Lucia

After hearing an Access Without Barriers radio program, Lucia, a mother in Mozambique, started talking to her teen daughter about sexual health and pregnancy.

Learn about Lucia’s story

Learn More

Learn LUCIA’S STOrY

Preventing Teen Pregnancy: The Power of Stories to Shift Social Norms

Positive Impact on Health Behaviors and Community Capacity

IMPACT

530%

increase in young people with disabilities

83%

of listeners learned sexual health behaviors

95%

of health professionals are able to speak with teens with disabilities

Capacity & Community Strengthening

By actively including youth with disabilities and community agencies throughout, we strengthened health workers’ communication skills, leading to more people with disabilities seeking care.

As more teens learn positive sexual health behaviors, STIs and teen pregnancy will decrease.

Rising Impact is empowering adolescents with and without disabilities to access critical health services and shape brighter futures through programs like Access Without Barriers.

Access Without Barriers is funded by Flanders Cooperation and implemented in collaboration with the Government of Mozambique, TV Surdo, Radio Mozambique, and community-based organizations.