Safe spaces enhancing sexual and reproductive health for youth: a scoping review

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Safe spaces play a crucial role in providing support for the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of youth. As young individuals undergo significant physical and emotional changes, they often encounter challenges such as societal taboos and a lack of accessible information related to their SRH needs. This scoping review explores the existing literature on using safe spaces to offer a supportive environment for adolescents SRH to navigate these complexities. METHODS: This review adhered to Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework method. A comprehensive search was conducted across Medline, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Scopus for studies published between January 2013 and December 2023. It focused on youth aged 15 to < 25 years, including primary studies and grey literature in English from diverse global contexts, excluding non-English studies and scoping/systematic reviews. The screening was done using Covidence software by two independent reviewers. Data were extracted and analyzed using descriptive statistics and narrative synthesis to summarize the findings. RESULTS: Schools emerged as the most common safe spaces (37 studies), effectively increasing condom use, SRH knowledge, and service utilization. Community-based initiatives (e.g., youth clubs and outreach programs) were critical in reducing stigma and fostering positive SRH attitudes. At the same time, digital platforms demonstrated the potential to address high-risk behaviours and unplanned pregnancies. Interventions included educational sessions, resource distribution, counseling, and peer support. While most studies reported positive outcomes, the evidence for long-term efficacy and sustainability was limited. CONCLUSION: Safe spaces hold significant potential to improve youth SRH outcomes by fostering informed decision-making and reducing risky behaviors. However, the effectiveness of interventions should be critically evaluated, with more emphasis on innovative, digital approaches and long-term impact. Tailored, inclusive, and sustainable strategies are essential to address the diverse needs of youth globally.