Very Young Adolescents in Humanitarian Contexts: Risks and Needs

Adolescent health and well-being is impacted by where you transition through these formative years.  In settings of conflict and displacement, adolescents are particularly vulnerable to forced and transactional sex, early marriage, early pregnancy, and STI transmission.  However, adolescents are rarely targeted in humanitarian programming.  Interventions are needed for young adolescents to prevent and protect them from early pregnancy and reproductive health related morbidity.  The WRC, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, International Medical Corps, and Save the Children, has implemented qualitative research in three humanitarian settings—among Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Somali refugees in Ethiopia, and Burmese refugees in Thailand.  Participatory methods, inclusive of photo elicitation interviews and community mapping explored gender norms, safety, traditional practices, awareness of body change, and relationship development.  Focus groups were implemented with adults.  A total of 32 group discussions were implemented in Ethiopia and Thailand and 16 more are planned for Lebanon.  Groups are disaggregated by age (10-12, 13-14, 15-16 and adult) and gender.  Data will be used to design programs that better meet the needs of this population.  Findings from research in each site suggest that issues such as early marriage, trafficking, sexual violence and other forms of gender based violence are concerns during early adolescence and for parents.  Communities want more programming to protect and educate youth.  Adults and adolescents identified a gap in health education and services for young adolescents.