Over one third of the population in Egypt
is currently between 10 and 29 years of
age. The lives of this disproportionately
large number of young people in Egypt
are significantly different from the lives of previous
generations; their needs for a safe and smooth
transition to adulthood are particular to the
requirements and challenges of their time.
Young people in Egypt are experiencing puberty
earlier, spending more years in school, and marrying
later than previous generations. Delayed marriage
means a prolonged period of singlehood, particularly
for young males. In fact, most young men under 29
are unmarried. Most young women are exposed
to female circumcision in adolescence, and social
pressure favoring early marriage and childbearing
has not waned.
These aspects of young people’s lives in Egypt have
serious implications for their reproductive health,
a topic that receives only limited attention from
policymakers. Not only do the majority of unmarried
youth not receive reproductive health services,
their exposure to reliable information channels and
support regarding issues pertaining to their physical,
mental, and social well-being before marriage is
low. Calls to conceal sexuality-related information
from young people fail to take note of the particular
susceptibility of this group to risky behaviors and
unhealthy practices that affect their reproductive
health and their healthy transition to adulthood.