Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108235

Shahira Hussein, MD, MPed, Nagwa Samir, MD, MObgyn, and Mohamed Abou Nar, MS, MBA. TAHSEEN/CATALYST, 53 Manial, 4th Floor, Cairo, 11451, Egypt, 002025325065, mohamedan@tahseen.org

Research conducted by TAHSEEN/CATALYST in Egypt demonstrated that a lack of communication between adults and young people regarding reproductive and sexual health puts them at a disadvantage for good decision-making and reproductive health outcomes at the beginning of their lives. In response, TAHSEEN/CATALYST successfully initiated Shabab TAHSEEN Week, a Behavior Change Communication (BCC) program aimed at young people aged 14-18 in 17 communities in Egypt. This six-day program blends community service, sports, and education to increase knowledge and improve attitudes towards reproductive and sexual health and mobilize young people as advocates for improved communication and empowerment within the community. The key to the program is leveraging the intimacy and trust-filled environment of community service and sport activities with mentors to attract, educate, and mobilize young people on sexual health. This unique BCC methodology shows evidence of success on three levels. First, pre- and post-program indicators show youths' knowledge of sexual health topics has improved significantly. For example, optimal birth spacing improved from 46% to 92%, best age of women first pregnancy from 52% to 82%, harms of female circumcision from 17% to 90%, and puberty changes from 13% to 86%. Second, evidence shows participating youth have taken the initiative to openly educate peers and respectfully engage parents and community leaders on sexual health topics breaking generations of silence. Third, the sustainability of the program has been demonstrated by continuation and replication in participating communities.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants attending this session will be able to recognize a unique model of youth empowerment and education; describe the impact of the model of community mobilization on reproductive health knowledge, attitudes, and intentions and analyze the role of youth empowerment in receptivity to learning about sensitive topics.

Keywords: Youth, Reproductive Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation