New publication on adolescent reproductive health
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Network Vol. 20, No. 3 is now on-line. This issue of Family Health
International's (FHI) quarterly scientific bulletin focuses on ado-
lescent reproductive health.
Read the full text of Network 20-3 on FHI's Web site at:
English: http://www.fhi.org/en/fp/fppubs/network/v20-3/index.html
French: http://www.fhi.org/fr/networkf/fv20-3/index.html
Spanish: http://www.fhi.org/sp/networks/sv20-3/index.html
Here is a brief summary of the articles it contains:
Network: Adolescent Reproductive Health
Vol. 20, No. 3, 2000
Sex education and other services for young adults help reduce their
risks of an unplanned pregnancy or infection from a sexually trans-
mitted disease. The issue includes examples of programs for adoles-
cents in Jamaica, Mali, Uganda, Zambia, Egypt, South Africa and In-
dia.
Many Youth Face Grim STD Risks
Adolescents need skills and self-confidence to abstain from sexual
activity or to reduce their risks. Even when adolescents have accu-
rate knowledge about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), they often
do not heed warnings to reduce risky behaviors. Common features of
successful STD programs for adolescents are listed.
Sex Education Helps Prepare Young Adults
Reproductive health education can be successful in a variety of set-
tings, including schools and community centers. Sex education can de-
lay first intercourse and encourages condom use among adolescents who
are already sexually active. "Do Youth Need Information?" summarizes
surveys among youth to evaluate their level of knowledge. "Reproduc-
tive Health Web Sites for Youth" provides a description of Web sites
that specialize in adolescent reproductive health information.
Better Services Can Reduce Abortion Risks
Fear, shame and desperation lead some young women to end a pregnancy,
often under unsafe conditions. To help reduce deaths and illnesses
caused by abortion, health experts recommend making family planning
services and information widely available to adolescents. A related
article describes research on how friends and family influence abor-
tion decisions.
Some Cultures Tolerate Risky Male Behavior
Risky behavior among adolescent males can affect women negatively by
encouraging some men to have sex only for physical gratification, to
have multiple partners and to treat women with little respect.
Programs for Adolescents: Neighborhood Peer Educators in Mali
The Programme des Adolescents in Mali trains girls and boys in coun-
seling and other educational activities to help promote contraceptive
use among their peers.
Programs for Adolescents: The "Ashe" Experience in Jamaica
Michael Holgate, a performer in the Ashe Performing Arts Academy and
Ensemble in Jamaica, describes his personal experiences with the
group, which promotes better reproductive health through performances
and workshops.
Programs for Adolescents: Reproductive Health Merit Badge for Scouts
Working through scouting organizations, the Health of Adolescent
Refugees Project in Uganda, Zambia and Egypt and the Healthy Adoles-
cent Project in India help adolescents to learn about reproductive
health through a merit badge.
Programs for Adolescents: Encouraging Youth-friendly Clinics
A South African initiative is planning strategies to improve services
for young clients, including more convenient locations and hours for
clinics.
Opinion: The Need to Evaluate Youth Programs
The need to evaluate youth programs carefully is outlined by Dr.
Nancy E. Williamson of FHI.
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More than 1,600 full-text materials in English, Spanish and French
are available on our Web site:
http://www.fhi.org
FHI is committed to helping women and men have access to safe, effec-
tive, acceptable and affordable family planning methods to ensure
that they achieve their desired number and spacing of children; pre-
venting the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted dis-
eases (STDs); and improving the health of women and children.
--
David Hock
mailto:DHock@fhi.org
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