Reproductive Health of Young Adults PART II

1. Reproductive Health of Young AdultsPART II DR KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

2. Who Provides Information and Services to Youth? To offer a range of services, various providers need to be involved: Teachers Doctors Nurses Peer educators Community workers DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

3. Sexuality: Open DiscussionsAre Important • Difficult topic to discuss openly for both youth and adults • Includes a wide range of issues, such as peer pressure, sexual identity, sexual orientation, sexual capability, sexual coercion • Helps youth understand and express their feelings • Promotes responsible sexual behavior, helps prevent unintended pregnancy and STIs DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

4. Communication Skills Needed by Providers • Reflective listening • Open-ended questions • Positive body language • Characteristics that help communication: • sincerity, honesty, non-judgment, respect, sense of humor Confidentiality is critical in serving youth DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

5. Provider Training Needed • Technical knowledge • Knowledge of issues facing young adults • Gender awareness • Counseling skills • For some: how to train young people in communication skills DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

6. What Reproductive Health Information and Education Do Youth Need? Young adults need information and skills to be able to take responsibility for their sexuality. • Risks and consequences of sexual activity • Contraceptives and STIs • Sex education • Fertility issues for men and women • Gender issues DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

7. Research Shows Sex Education Helps Sex education: • Does not lead to earlier or increased sexual activity • Can give young people skills to delay sexual activity • Can increase contraceptive use It is important to begin sex education early DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

8. Content: Provides basic, accurate information Focuses on reducing sexual risk-taking Addresses peer pressures Strengthens individual and group values against unprotected intercourse Teaching methods/ program design: Provides modeling and practice of communication and negotiation skills Trains instructors Involves students in teaching methods Lasts at least 14 hours or has intensive small-group work Elements of Effective Sex Education Programs Effective Programs DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

9. Sexuality: What Youth Need to Know Includes issues of identity, societal roles, human relationships, biological development Youth need to learn: • How their bodies, minds and feelings are changing • How to communicate about sexuality • How to handle societal and peer pressures • How to make responsible decisions about sexual activity, including abstinence DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

10. Fertility Awareness Involves education about: • The reproductive system • Fertility • The menstrual cycle • How pregnancy occurs • Attitudes and cultural norms about fertility, the use of contraception and childbearing DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

11. Fertility of Men and Women • Males are fertile all the time after beginning sperm production • Females are fertile for a period of time during each cycle • Menstrual cycle: • begins with menstrual bleeding • ovulation occurs • if egg is not fertilized, cycle begins again in about 2 weeks • Fertile time can begin about 6 days before ovulation DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

12. Youth-Adult Partnerships Elements of good partnerships: • Organizational commitment and capacity • Attitude shifts among adults and youth • Selection, recruitment and retention of youth • Substantive levels of youth participation DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

13. Family Involvement • Many youth want to talk to family members about sexuality • Crucial elements: • availability of family members • attitudes and knowledge • communications skills • Programs needed to help parents learn necessary skills and information • Family members can support youth in seeking services and information DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

14. Health Clinics Designed for Youth • Separate units for youth • Outreach clinics with specially trained staff • Mobile clinics • Special hours • Convenient and safe locations • Youth-to-youth promotion • Low or no-cost services DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

15. Elements of School-Based Programs Large numbers of youth can be reached efficiently at schools • Family life education curricula • School-based or linked clinical services • Training of instructors and administrators • Involvement of families and community DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

16. Community-Based Youth Organizations • Multi-service organizations: recreation, sports teams, vocational training, tutoring • Workplace and religious groups: information and services • Peer promoters or educators: information, counseling and condoms • Youth centers for pregnant and parenting teens: continuing education and skills training DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

17. Mass Media and Other Creative Outreach • Mass media: radio, television, film, comic books • Telephone hotlines • Entertainment: drama groups, puppet shows, concerts • Computer technology: Web sites, CD ROMS, distance learning • Social marketing DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI

18. Summary Lessons learned: • Sex education is valuable for young adults • Education needs to focus on skills and attitudes as well as information • Programs need to involve youth in the design • Forming effective youth-adult partnerships influences attitude changes DR . KANURPIYA CHATURVEDI