Operational Research Study on Meeting Reproductive and Sexual Health Needs of School-going and Out-of-school Adolescents

Agency : Ministry of Health and family Welfare, Government of India

The study was undertaken with a view to examining the perceptions and assessing the reproductive and sexual health needs of school-going and out-of-school adolescents. The study was also aimed to undertake an intervention programme to meet these needs.

The project was carried out in Ajmer district of Rajasthan. During the first phase of the project, a situational analysis was conducted to understand the background and needs of the adolescents regarding reproductive and sexual health. On the basis of the findings of the situational analysis, a strategic plan was developed and interventions were identified to meet the information needs. The project envisaged active involvement and participation of parents, peers, teachers, health providers and other stakeholders at each stage of the intervention programme. The project involved the development of communication material based on the needs of the adolescents; formation of groups of adolescent boys and girls in the local wards; counselling; community meetings; interaction with local influencers, teachers and parents; involvement of health care providers; and a referral system for addressing health and information needs.

The project provided an important lesson to learn- that there was an appalling gap in the information about sexuality and reproductive health related issues among adolescents. They had access to such information from other means, largely from pornographic magazines, which provide half-truths and exaggerated and false information. The project showed that creating an enabling environment, communicating through small community peer groups of adolescents and youths with the help of parents, teachers, counsellors and peers makes a significant change in the perspective and knowledge about sexuality-related issues and reproductive health among the adolescent population. The groups of adolescent boys and girls, constituted under the project and facilitated by the counsellors and teachers, proved to be an excellent medium to reach the adolescents and educate them in this sphere of life.



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