Rethinking ‘risk’ in sexual and reproductive health policy: Implications for marginalised youth

Abstract

Why, after almost two decades of dedicated attempts to improve Sexual and Reproductive Health in Aotearoa/New Zealand, are we still seeing significant inequities between groups? Why is it that the ones lagging behind—youth, Maori, Pasifika—are the very groups who are prioritised in Aotearoa/New Zealand’s Strategy? In this Policy Brief, Tracy Morison, Sarah Herbert, and Daygan Eagar show that the current ‘risk-centred’ policy approachcannot fulfil the government’s aspirations for reducing youth SRH disparities by reaching those “most in need” . They offer an alternative policy approach that draws on a Reproductive Justice framework for addressing the SRH needs of all young people