Meeting the unmet health care needs of young people poses a continuing challenge for health systems worldwide, yet it is critical to containing the AIDS epidemic and reducing unintended pregnancies. An integrated approach to the delivery of reproductive health care expands youth access to health care by making multiple services available at the same facility, during the same hours, and often from the same provider. Integrated services for young people address the two major risks associated with unprotected sex—that is, unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDS. In addition, some integrated programs address other issues, such as sexual abuse or maternal and child health care.

This report highlights tools that managers can use to integrate reproductive health, family planning, and HIV/AIDS services for young people.The tools described here, and the examples that illustrate their use, are drawn from USAID and other donor-funded programs. The tools are designed to help programs:

• make integrated services youth-friendly—that is, increase their ability to attract and retain young clients,
• train providers on how to offer integrated services to young people,
• develop job aids that help providers offer a wider range of services, and
• raise awareness of and gain community support for integrated services for young people.

All of the tools draw on lessons learned from program experience and research results, have been tested in the field, and are readily available. After choosing the tools that best meet their program's needs, managers can make the tools even more useful and effective by adapting them to the local setting and to program objectives.

Key Points

• Unprotected sex, both inside and outside marriage, threatens the health of millions of young people in developing countries. Unintended pregnancies and their complications are major causes of death and illness for young women, while both young men and young women frequently suffer from sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
• Integrating family planning, HIV/AIDS, and maternal and child health services can reach more young people and may do so cost effectively. Integrated programs can deliver multiple services during a single clinic visit, which makes them attractive to youth and efficient for most health programs.
• Making services youth-friendly can attract and retain young clients. Young people generally prefer the convenience of integrated services. Programs can make integrated services even more attractive to young clients by offering convenient locations and hours, comfortable surroundings, sympathetic providers, privacy, and confidentiality.
• Training can prepare managers and providers to offer multiple, integrated services tailored to young people. Training can sensitize staff to the special needs of youth (including youth who are infected with HIV), teach them about new services, and explain how to offer counseling that identifies and addresses a range of young clients’ health needs.
• Job aids can help providers meet the extra demands of integrated services. Job aids can supply providers with technical information on a variety of services, guide them through a comprehensive and integrated counseling process, and help them decide how to respond to a client’s symptoms or health needs.
• Promoting services in the community can prompt young people at risk to visit a facility. Community activities can build social support for integrated services and make people aware that health facilities welcome young clients.