Notes to broadcasters
Founded in Bouaké in 2003, at the height of the military–civilian crisis, the NGO AIDSCOM (Association Ivoirienne pour le Développement Social et Communautaire) works primarily to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in the field of community health.
AIDSCOM is also involved in community health, good governance, education, social cohesion, and agriculture. The organisation has also taken an interest in the high number of deaths among pregnant women and girls who have attempted abortion. To this end, AIDSCOM launched a project in urban and rural communities called Aladjé (meaning ‘happiness’ in the Baoulé language) to explore the perception of access to sexual and reproductive health.
This project has enabled a large number of men and women to openly express their views on access to information about SRH (sexual and reproductive health), a taboo subject in communities including among intellectuals. Above all, it has encouraged a dialogue that saves lives.
The survey findings were presented to administrative and traditional authorities, as well as the public health community, in the Gbèkè region. Women from rural areas proposed ways to improve the sharing of information on sexual and reproductive health in the villages of Diabo, Bouaké, Brobo, Botro, Djébonoua, Béoumi and Sakassou.
This radio script highlights the importance of SRH for women through the Aladjé project. It includes contributions from the following five resource persons: Ruth Koffi (Aladjé Project Assistant); Kassy NZI Emma (Social Worker); Euphrasie Kouassi (Teacher); Dr Kouadio Kouadio Narcisse (Gynaecologist, Obstetrician, Assistant Head of Clinic at Bouaké University Hospital (CHU), Lecturer-Researcher at Alassane Ouattara University); and Dr Edouard Kouakou Kra (Health Psychosociologist). They will provide in-depth insights on the subject.
This script is based on authentic interviews with AIDSCOM members and other stakeholders regarding access to information on SRH. For your radio station, you could use different characters to portray each speaker’s voice during the programme. Be sure to inform the audience in advance if any voices other than those of the interviewees are used.
You could ask the following questions:
- What advice would you give to other women who want to gain access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services?
- How has the ‘Aladjé’ project changed women’s daily lives?
- Which social myths regarding gender-based SRH issues need to be dispelled?
Length of programme, including intro and extro: 25 to 30 minutes
Script
SFX: CALL SIGNAL :HOST :
Today, we’re discussing the sexual and reproductive health of young girls in Côte d’Ivoire. Ruth Koffi will tell us how her family supported her when she started her period. This support profoundly affected her life and choices, and could inspire other young girls to develop a better understanding of their bodies and their rights. I’m going to start with a simple question: Ms Koffi, have you ever discussed these issues with your mother?
RUTH KOFFI :
Yes, I’ve had the chance to talk about this subject with both my mother and my aunt, who is a midwife. These conversations were invaluable in helping me to avoid becoming pregnant while I was studying. When my older cousin had her first period, I spoke to my mother about it. She prepared me for the changes that would occur in my body and the responsibilities that would come with them. She also explained that unprotected sex can lead to pregnancy and the interruption of one’s studies.
HOST :
What impact have these discussions had on you?
RUTH KOFFI :
My mother’s advice about my first period enabled me to avoid an unfortunate situation. Some of my friends weren’t so lucky and became pregnant.
HOST :
And what did your father think?
RUTH KOFFI :
He just told my mother : “That’s a women’s issue; make sure it doesn’t happen here.”
HOST :
Now, let’s move on to the Aladjé project. Can you tell us about the context in which it was set up?
RUTH KOFFI :
The project is a response to the negative consequences of the silence surrounding sexual and reproductive health. For example, more than 350 cases of teenage pregnancy were recorded at Collège Moderne de Fronan (57 km from Bouaké) and Lycée Moderne de Guiglo (in the west of the country) in the first term of the 2025–26 school year. This situation is linked to inadequate access to information about sexual and reproductive rights. To address it, the Aladjé project was launched with 1,114 women in the Gbèkè region around Bouaké. The name ‘Aladjé’ means ‘happiness and joy’ in Baoulé language.
HOST :
What are the findings from the field?
RUTH KOFFI :
The survey shows that six out of ten abortions are illegal. Young girls are afraid to keep a pregnancy for reasons that the community doesn’t understand, and the hospital doesn’t always offer support, instead, it often stigmatises them. Consequently, many resort to illegal abortions, despite the risks to their health.
HOST :
What did the women interviewed have to say?
RUTH KOFFI :
They admitted that they knew almost nothing about sexual and reproductive health. Above all, they said that they wished they could talk about it freely so that their daughters wouldn’t have to face the same difficulties. They are aware that abortions outside the medical system are very dangerous. From the risk of death to the possibility of becoming infertile, the women interviewed knew that abortion was not a desirable option.
HOST :
Next to you is Ms Kassy, social worker. So, what can you tell us about the issue?
EMMA NZI KASSY :
The problem is real. The deaths visible and the pain silent but obvious. We’re afraid to address the problem directly because access to sexual and reproductive health is limited.
HOST :
I’m curious to know how you dealt with your first period. How did it go?
EMMA NZI KASSY :
I learned about sexuality from my elders, who sometimes gave us potions to prevent pregnancy. Sexuality was never discussed within the family. Many parents believe that talking about it encourages teenagers to become sexually active. Even in well-educated families, the right to sexual and reproductive health is not discussed in depth. Consequently, young women aged 15–21 often use all kinds of contraceptives, as they are scared of becoming pregnant and have few people to confide in.
HOST :
Why don’t people talk about reproductive health in African communities?
EMMA NZI KASSY :
In Africa, anything that cannot be explained is often considered taboo. Parents avoid talking about it for fear of ‘inciting’ teenagers. Even today, despite answers being available, it is still forbidden to discuss these subjects in public. Many women resort to clandestine abortions because they are ignorant of the law and are reluctant to visit health centres for fear of being stigmatised.
HOST :
Can you explain this further?
EMMA NZI KASSY :
To meet global expectations, Côte d’Ivoire passed Law 2024-358 on 11 June 2024. This law states that “abortion can be permitted in certain cases, particularly when the pregnancy is the result of rape, or when the life of the mother or child is at risk”. Unfortunately, the general public is still unaware of this law, and no promotional campaign has been conducted. Stigmatisation continues to be a problem as well. In health centres, young girls are afraid of being criticised by medical staff who sometimes assume that seeking information or using contraceptives means that they are “available to boys”. To avoid being judged, they would rather remain hidden and not seek information.
HOST :
Another guest at this event is a primary school teacher. Ms Euphrasie Kouassi, do you think that schools today can break the traditional silence around sexual and reproductive health?
EUPHRASIE KOUASSI :
We are addressing the issue of early pregnancy and its impact on young girls’ future prospects. This is an important step forward because when I was their age, there were no such courses and I had to do my own research. Unfortunately, many girls in our generation have had illegal abortions. According to Performance Monitoring and Accountability-PMA 2020, it is estimated that 4-5% of women of childbearing age in Côte d’Ivoire had had at least one abortion prior to the survey, representing 209,000–288,000 abortions in total.
HOST :
What aspects of the course are covered in concrete terms?
EUPHRASIE KOUASSI :
Most of the children are between nine and eleven years old. The teacher has chosen to proceed gradually. We don’t address the issue in all its complexity, but we explain to the children what early pregnancy is. We then describe the consequences for the girl’s schooling, her family and her future. With regard to boys, we emphasise the importance of continuing their schooling and avoiding dropping out. In practice, the national education system does everything possible to enable pregnant teenagers to continue their education after giving birth. Schooling is postponed. If she wishes, the young girl can stop attending school and focus on her pregnancy until she gives birth. The following school year, she returns to resume classes under the supervision of school inspectors; previously she would have been expelled.
HOST :
Is it only now that sex education has been introduced into the Côte d’Ivoire school curriculum?
EUPHRASIE KOUASSI :
No, in fact, sex education has been taught in secondary schools for years. Initially, it was part of civic and moral education, but it has now become Education on Peoples’ and Citizens’ Rights [EDHC]. The risks of becoming pregnant were addressed by teaching women how to calculate their menstrual cycles.
HOST :
Did this prevent young girls, especially schoolgirls, from becoming pregnant?
EUPHRASIE KOUASSI :
To be honest, there were very few recorded cases of pregnancy in secondary schools. Perhaps it was because they were afraid of their parents that, among friends, girls found ways to terminate their pregnancies. After all, beyond the classroom, where the focus was solely on grades, there was no discussion within the community about sexual and reproductive health. And, without really understanding much about what was going on, pregnancy rates across the country skyrocketed.
HOST :
What could explain this surge in pregnancies?
EUPHRASIE KOUASSI :
The snobbery stemming from the fierce determination of our young girls, in both rural and urban areas, to emulate the West. Moreover, the mobile phone and the rapid expansion of the internet in our country have contributed to this situation.
ANIMATEUR.TRICE :
This has become clearer now, but aren’t there medical consequences? To answer this question, we turn to Dr Kouadio Kouadio Narcisse, Assistant Head of Clinic, Gynaecologist-Obstetrician at the Bouaké University Hospital and Lecturer at the Medical Sciences Training Unit at Alassane Ouattara University in Bouaké. So, Dr Kouadio, what can you tell us about this?
DR KOUADIO KOUADIO :
Due to the silence surrounding sexual and reproductive health, we are witnessing an increase in maternal deaths and STIs (sexually transmitted infections). On a social level, infertility can lead to divorce, and women who have had an abortion may feel guilty if they are unable to conceive within their marriages. This can sometimes lead to suicide.
HOST :
Wow! Is it really that bad?
DR KOUADIO KOUADIO :
Of course! In our society, it’s difficult for a woman to be in a relationship and not be able to have children. She often becomes the butt of jokes among her in-laws, even when it isn’t her fault. Almost all women are affected psychologically. The situation is even worse when infertility is linked to a clandestine abortion performed during the woman’s adolescent years. In this case, they often feel guilty. Infertility resulting from abortion is caused by the negative consequences of this clandestine and unsafe act. If blood clots or foetal remains are not treated and removed, they can rot and lead to the fallopian tubes being removed, thereby rendering the woman sterile. This medical procedure is called uterine evacuation. If it is not performed, putrefaction of the blood clots can lead to the tubes being removed. The result is infertility, meaning the woman is unable to have children.
HOST :
We have a psychology specialist with us today. Dr Edouard Kouakou Kra. What can you tell us about the situation regarding sexual and reproductive health, and what prompted the creation of the Aladjé project in your view as the field investigator?
DR KOUAKOU KRA :
The motivation behind this survey and the launch of the Aladjé project is clear: the NGO AIDSCOM wanted to address the unspoken issues resulting in loss of life, clandestine abortions and unwanted pregnancies during the school years. All of this is the result of the silence surrounding sexual and reproductive health. In the field, the majority of women clearly indicated that they knew almost nothing about the subject. However, as one of my predecessors pointed out, the legal framework does exist. Article 422 of Law No. 2024-358 of 11 June 2024 amended Law No. 2019-574 of the Criminal Code which was passed on 26 June 2019 and specifies the conditions under which an abortion may be performed.
HOST :
What questions did you ask the women interviewed for this survey?
DR KOUAKOU KRA
: The questionnaire focused on their knowledge of sexual and reproductive health rights. We asked whether they were aware of the law on safe abortion in Côte d’Ivoire and how much they knew about menstrual hygiene.
MODERATOR :
What were the responses from the field?
DR KOUAKOU KRA :
Women in rural areas obviously don’t have any information about the law. Besides, who is going to tell them about it? Safe abortion is not widely discussed either. Nobody wants to talk about it because of religious and social pressures. Neither Muslims nor Christians want to hear about abortion. This is why Côte d’Ivoire has not yet ratified the Maputo Protocol, which protects women’s rights.
HOST :
Can you briefly tell us about this Protocol?
DR KOUAKOU KRA :
It’s an African Union instrument known as the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the rights of women. Article 14 refers to the right to health and control of reproductive functions, stipulating that “States shall ensure that the rights of women to health, including sexual and reproductive health are respected and promoted. This includes the right to control their fertility; the right to freely choose any method of contraception; the protection of women’s reproductive rights by authorising medical abortion in cases of sexual assault, rape, incest and where the continued pregnancy endangers the mental and physical health of the mother or the life of the mother or the foetus. ” These are a few highlights from the protocol, which is not yet effective in our country.
HOST :
Did your survey only target women and girls?
DR KOUAKOU KRA :
No, we were interested in community leaders and religious guides. We wanted to find out more or less the same things as from the women, but with a focus on the community approach to dealing with certain specific problems related to the perception of sexual and reproductive health.
HOST :
When you say “specific problems”, what are you referring to?
DR KOUAKOU KRA :
The survey sought to find out how these community leaders and religious guides dealt with cases of rape and pregnancy among young girls in their communities. Above all, we wanted to find out whether they were aware of the law on safe abortion and to hear their opinions and suggestions.
HOST :
And what were the findings?
DR KOUAKOU KRA :
As expected, they are not aware of this legal provision. In terms of suggestions, the community leaders recommended continuing to raise public awareness, as this would enable them to begin their public advocacy work. They admitted that they would find it difficult to initiate conversations with women about these issues alone, as attitudes are not yet very receptive.
HOST :
One section of the population whose situation in this area remains particularly worrying is women living with a disability. We spoke to Christine Somé, President of the Union of Associations of Women Living with Disabilities in the Gbèkè region. Ms Somé, could you describe the situation of women with disabilities with regard to sexual and reproductive health?
CHRISTINE SOME :
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to talk about this situation, which we see as yet another violation of women’s rights. Some families refuse to allow their disabled daughters to become mothers, even though their disability does not prevent them from becoming pregnant. In our union, we also have single mothers because, given their lack access to information about sexual and reproductive health, the perpetrators of these pregnancies flee as soon as they occur, abandoning our members in the process.
HOST :
Based on your experience with the Aladjé project, what are your plans?
CHRISTINE SOME :
Through training, we aim to raise awareness and educate our members in urban and rural areas so they can better deal with sexual and reproductive health issues.
HOST :
Unfortunately, we’ve reached the end of the programme. Thank you for talking to us so openly about sexual and reproductive health.
We’d now like to hear your views on the following topic: should we talk openly with our teenagers about sexual and reproductive health? Please contact the radio station at ___________. You can also write to us at the following address ______________ . Tune in [next time/tomorrow/next week]. We’ll be addressing another crucial social issue. This time, we’ll be presenting a programme about the impact of HIV/AIDS on children in our community. Your host, ____________. It’s been a pleasure presenting this programme. We hope you’ve enjoyed following us. Thank you for your time.
Acknowledgements
Contributed by : Issiaka N’guessan, journalist living in Côte d’Ivoire
Reviewed by : Viviane Mouhi-Ayehui, development journalist and head of communication and advocacy at AIBEF
Documentary resources: https://e1.nmcdn.io/assets/engender/wp-content/uploads/imported-files/Policy-Paper.pdf LOI SUR LA SANTÉ DE LA REPRODUCTION EN CÔTE D’IVOIRE : ON DIT QUOI ? 100 ANS APRÈS OÙ EN SOMMES-NOUS? (1920-2021)
https://www.education.gouv.ci/index.php/Activite/details/370, Baisse des cas de grossesse en cours de scolarité : le CNDH félicite le gouvernement, Wednesday 2 July 2025
https://www.education.gouv.ci/index.php/Reseaux/dossier, Grossesse en milieu scolaire
Interviews:
- Ruth Koffi, Aladjé Project Assistant. Interview conducted on Monday 26 January 2026
- Kassy NZI Emma, social worker. Interview conducted on Monday 26 January 2026
- Euphrasie Kouassi, teacher. Interview conducted on Wednesday 28 January 2026
- Dr Kouadio Kouadio Narcisse, Gynaecologist-Obstetrician-Assistant Head of Clinic, Bouaké University Hospital, Lecturer-Researcher at Alassane OUATTARA University. Interview conducted on 24 January 2026
- Dr Edouard Kouakou Kra, Health psycho-sociologist. Interview conducted on 24 January 2026
This news item was produced with funds from the PASSERELLE project, implemented in partnership with WUSC thanks to funding from Global Affairs Canada.