AVSC International, the International Center for Research on Women, and its Nepali partners -- the BP Memorial Health Foundation and New ERA -- are testing the potential and effectiveness of a participatory approach to improving adolescent reproductive health. The Participatory Adolescent Reproductive Health Project involves adolescents and community members central to their lives in defining key issues, prioritizing service needs, and in program design and implementation.
The project is being conducted in an urban and a rural area in Nepal. Initiated in 1998, this four year project has two phases, a formative research phase and an intervention phase. A key activity during the intervention phase has been an action planning process that has involved youth, adults, and community groups to review research results and design intervention activities to address adolescent reproductive health concerns and needs identified from the formative research. The process involved sharing and discussing research findings with community members, creation of youth task forces to develop interventions, and development of an intervention plans.
The action planning process has led to an increase in confidence and self-esteem of the youth involved and in adults’ appreciation of the capabilities of the youth. Additionally, the process has led to the design of more appropriate interventions and has contributed to increased commitment from community groups. However, the process has also faced several challenges including insufficient time and human resources, a flux in community involvement, differing levels of commitment from the rural and urban communities, and difficulties in addressing contextual factors affecting adolescent reproductive health.
Learning Objectives: At the end of this session participants will be able to: 1.describe the planning process used with community members; 2.identify the constraints and benefits of using a participatory process; 3.identify ways to address project challenges without reducing participation.
Keywords: Adolescents, International, Community Participation
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employment