What This Means
This research surveyed 311 street-dwelling adolescents aged 16–19 in Sylhet, Bangladesh, to understand their sexual and reproductive health (SRH) situations. The study found that a substantial portion had engaged in sexual activity, but with very little protection or knowledge about STDs — only about 2 in 100 participants knew how sexually transmitted diseases are spread, and only about 1 in 7 used any contraception. Among girls who had been sexually active, more than 8 in 10 had become pregnant, and about half had undergone an abortion, reflecting the serious consequences of unprotected sex and limited access to health services.
The study also found that sexual abuse was extremely common, affecting nearly 62% of participants. Girls were about nine times more likely than boys to report sexual abuse, and adolescents who had lived on the streets longer faced greater risk. Despite these serious health needs, fewer than half of the adolescents had ever used any SRH services, indicating a major gap between need and access to care.
This research suggests that street adolescents in urban Bangladesh, especially girls, face profound and interconnected vulnerabilities related to sexual and reproductive health — including abuse, unintended pregnancy, and lack of information or services. The findings point to an urgent need for targeted outreach programs, accessible health services, and educational efforts specifically designed for this highly marginalized group.