CARE-India started a six-year intervention in 1997 to improve adolescent reproductive health in urban slums of Jabalpur, India. Identified priority problems among adolescents included: low knowledge; limited health service and family planning use; inappropriate service availability. Primary project targets were adolescent girls. Secondary targets were adolescent boys, husbands and parents of married adolescent girls, and schoolteachers. Strategies included: peer education, promotion of adolescent resource centers(ARCs), representation of stakeholders in decision making and linking of health institutions to school authorities. Leaders from all groups were trained on reproductive health care, family life education etc. Anganwadi Workers(AWWs), Auxiliary Nurse Midwifes(ANMs), Resident Community Volunteers(RCVs) and Traditional Birth Attendants(TBAs) were trained. A mechanism was developed to supply diagnostic instrument kits and drugs.
A mid-term evaluation(MTE) was conducted in 2000. Six-hundred households were sampled. The MTE demonstrated positive project achievement with 39% girls and 46% boys aware of CARE activities. Hygiene increased from 36% to 97% in girls and from 11% to 45% in boys. Knowledge about menses rose from 56% to 87% in girls. Awareness about FP methods improved in all groups, especially girls(74% to 89%). Knowledge of RTIs/HIV symptoms and prevention improved among all. Deliveries attended by trained dais increased from 12% to 30%. The proportion of women discussing RH issues with men increased from 44% to 84%. Peer education was seen as the most sustainable way to spread knowledge of ARCs.
MTE recommendations include: improving mother-girl communication; improvement of ARCs, revision of IEC materials.
Learning Objectives: List unique adolescent girl health needs. Describe community-based interventions that can improve adolescent reproductive health. Assess the role of peer education in adolescent reproductive health programs and the sustainability of these programs.
Keywords: Adolescent Health, International Reproductive Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: CARE
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment