Repositioning Family Planning in West Africa

Integration of FP into non-health interventions for Youth

Dr. Tonya Nyagiro, Director

Emmanuel Edudzie

•Youth in West Africa sub-region make up over 35% of the population in most countries

•52% of young women give birth before age 20 in West Africa.

•Youth have an unmet need 2.3 time higher than the adult population

•it is estimated that over 60% of the poor are young people

•Many youth are in the informal sector and are not traditionally reached via schools or health centers

Arzum Ciloglu/CCP

• Education

• Livelihoods

• Media

• Sports

Opportunities and key entry points of FP

Integration for Youth

• Formal Education/school-based programs

• Peer education

• Faith-based organizations

Integration into Education

Integration into School-Based Programs: Evidence

Based Approaches

•Family Life Education/Life Skills Education

•Teacher training and capacity building

•Christian and Muslim Family Life Education

Evidence on School-based curriculum characteristics of

effective programs

•Focus on risk taking behaviours

•Theoretical basis that identifies risk and protective behaviours to be addressed

•Clear messages about avoiding unprotected sex

•Teacher training for teachers who believe in the program

• Y-PEER

• LoveLife, experience from South Africa

Integration into Peer Education: Evidence Based

Approaches

• Youth should be included in all phases of RH programs, from design through implementation

• Such inclusion must not only be voluntary but also paid positions; engaging youth as project staff

• This requires adequate training for youth

Youth Perspectives on integrating livelihoods

The Integration Process

•Poverty due to lack of livelihoods•Vulnerability to FP/RH problems and high unmet need•Youth Involvement in RH/FP programs•Education/Training•Sustainable livelihoods attained•Ability to access FP/RH information and services•Ability to make informed choices on RH

• Peer education, apprenticeships, job preparation, focusing on out-of–school youth

• Credit and small business development

• Vocational and technical training• Occupational training and workshops• Linkage of knowledge,

empowerment and practice

Evidence-based on Youth FP in Livelihoods &

Employment

• Global campaigns-experience from MTV

• National campaigns-experience from Love Live

• Local awareness raising and communications-experiences

Integration into Media: Evidence-based approaches

• Substantial exposure in each site

• Positive relationship between exposure and interpersonal communication

• Positive relationship between exposure and/or interpersonal communication and HIV-related social norms

Evidence-based Global Media MTV Research

Findings

Integration into Sports

Sports and leisure as a key intervention to both provide information and education as well as offer an alternative to risk-behaviours

Integration into Sports Evidence base

•Sports increase self esteem

•Offers a support network

•Evidence from research results shows increased knowledge and attitude

•Additional research needed to demonstrate prolonged behaviour change