Pointing to 2009 figures, he said only 32 percent of young girls and 21 percent of young boys who are unmarried visited government health centers in search of services. About 61 percent of married young girls depend on pharmacies to access family planning methods.
More than 8 million people have viewed reproductive health information on their platform, he said, citing data from the USAID Shukhi Jibon project providing school, healthcare, digital and community-based services.
During the youth dialogue, Zakia Akhtar, deputy director of the Directorate General of Family Planning, said there is not enough data on adolescent reproductive health services at the parent, teacher or even expert level.
To increase awareness, information will have to be spread at every level. He said that policy makers will also have to be sensitive in this regard.
Mahboob Ul Alam, MD, director of the USAID Shukhi Jibon Project and country director of Pathfinder International, said Bangladesh is now enjoying a demographic dividend (working-age population exceeding dependent population).
When youth population is in majority then there is possibility of socio-economic development. He said coordinated efforts are needed to prevent child marriage, early pregnancy and maternal mortality risk.
Israt Nair, project management specialist in the USAID Office of Population, Health and Nutrition, said a multi-layered and concerted initiative is needed to raise awareness about reproductive health.