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SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR CHOICES
website: www.mariestopes.org.uk
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intro: young people now comprise over half of the world's population, with adolescents (age 10-19) making up 20%. These young women and men have special needs for health care and education. Many of them are already sexually active and if they lack knowledge about sex, reproductive health and relationships, they can be highly vulnerable to unwanted sex, pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Meeting the sexual and reproductive health needs of young people is key to helping them fulfil their individual potential and make their contribution to the world.
the problem: in some places contraception is not widely used - either because of moral or religious opposition or because of lack of knowledge. In some countries, complications from unsafe abortions are the leading cause of death among teenage girls - causing more fatalities than both infectious disease and nutrition-related illnesses.
the challenge: empowering young people with the basic human right of reproductive choice is now of critical importance. Decisions made at this critical time will affect the current and future life options of young people. In 1999, the international community undertook a review of the International Conference on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD+5). A new part of the process was the Youth Forum (The Hague, 6-7 February). The Youth Forum ran in parallel to the Non-Government Organisation Forum, bringing together young people from youth and other organisations from 111 countries.
who: Marie Stopes International (MSI) is an international organisation providing reproductive health services to some of the poorest people in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. MSI helped 3.6 million people in 35 countries, reaching underserved and vulnerable groups such as young people and refugees.
what they do: working to fulfil the ICPD Programme of Action, the MSI Global Partnership has developed comprehensive sexual and reproductive health programmes for adolescents, including: in-school education; community outreach; advocacy; contraceptive distribution; teacher training; social marketing; popular theatre; and youth-friendly centres. To make services as effective as possible, the partnership consults young people and empowers them to create, design, implement and evaluate programmes. MSI Partners makes use of peer education whenever possible, and projects include discussion, radio, music and magazines - even sponsored football matches - to capture the attention of young people.
how: here are just a couple of examples of the innovative work going on around the partnership…
- The MSI Partner in Malawi, Banja La Mtsogolo (BLM), in close liaison with the government, has recruited and trained young people from youth clubs set up by the Ministry of Gender Youth and Community Services as community-based distribution agents and peer counsellors (CBDAs). The CBDAs counsel young people on reproductive health issues; dispense condoms and contraceptive pills; and make referrals for those requiring other reproductive health services, such as STI treatments and other contraceptive methods. In addition, the BLM Community Outreach team carries out sensitisation campaigns. Activities include: youth-led drama; choir and dance concerts; mobile van video shows; music festivals; advocacy with community leaders; and broadcasting group discussions. Brochures, T-shirts and posters have all been designed to fill information gaps and counter harmful cultural practices. To ensure a medical environment responsive to the needs of adolescents, the project offers service providers in-service education on youth counselling and youth-friendly procedures.
- In October 2000, MSI UK launched Sexplanations, a national campaign to help parents tackle how to discuss sex with their children. Sexplanations is MSI UK's contribution to the nationwide effort to improve the UK's statistics on teenage pregnancy (the UK has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Western Europe) and is in line with the government's target to halve the pregnancy rate for under-18s by 2010. As part of Sexplanations, MSI UK produces a free leaflet offering guidance to parents and guardians. In October 2001, the organisation also launched a new website for young people aged 11-15 [www.likeitis.org] and worked with young people at all stages of the site's development to ensure its relevance and appeal. Information is presented in lively and innovative ways and covers a wide range of issues such as sexually transmitted infections ('love bugs'); puberty; emergency contraception; peer pressure; sexuality; and teenage pregnancy.
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contacts
Marie Stopes International
153-157 Cleveland Street,
London W1T 6QW, UK
ph: +44 (0) 20 7574 7400
fax: +44 (0) 20 7574 7417
info@mariestopes.org.uk
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