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Interagency Youth Working Group

© 2003 Sean Hawkey, Courtesy of Photoshare© 2001 Jim Stipe/Lutheran World Relief, Courtesy of Photoshare© 2001 Jennifer Knox/CCP, Courtesy of Photoshare© 2006 Jane Koehler/CCP, Courtesy of Photoshare© 2005 Esther Braud, Courtesy of Photoshare

Resources On Youth Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS

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2001, William Mackie/CCP, Courtesy of Photoshare Contraceptive Options Email to a friend

Recommended Resources

Reports and Briefs

Guides and Tools

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Young people are at greater risk of unplanned pregnancy now than at any time in history. The average age at which girls begin menstruating is decreasing and young people are waiting longer to marry, which means the window of time for potential premarital sex and pregnancy is widening. Also, increased exposure to sexual issues through the media, growing urbanization, and other cultural changes may be putting youth at higher risk of unplanned pregnancy, as well as HIV and other STIs.
 
Most young people, especially those who are not married, have limited contraceptive options. Expanding their options means recognizing that one choice will not meet the needs of all youth. Program planners and service providers should target various groups of youth with messages that are appropriate to their needs:
  • Youth who are not sexually active: abstinence, delay of sex; information about fertility, risks, and contraceptive use; self-protection skills.
  • Sexually active, unmarried youth: secondary abstinence, delay of sex; information about fertility, pregnancy and STI/HIV risks; contraceptive and HIV prevention services.
  • Sexually active, married youth: delay first pregnancy, child spacing; contraceptive services.

Recommended Resources

Reports and Briefs
Expanding Contraceptive Options and Access for Youth. This research brief summarizes how education, services, and products can help protect youth against unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV. It discusses how appropriate messages should be used, depending on age, level of sexual activity, and marital status. (Family Health International, 2004)
 
Improving the Quality of Reproductive Health Care for Young People. This brief uses the framework developed by USAID’s Maximizing Access and Quality Initiative to illuminate key issues about the quality of reproductive health care for young adults, including limitations to contraceptive options and how to address barriers to such accessibility. (Population Council and Population Reference Bureau, 2003)
 
Youth and Contraception: Needs and Challenges. This USAID Global Technical Brief summarizes needs of youth for contraception, lessons learned from efforts to make options accessible, and program implications. (USAID, 2004)
Guides and Tools
Adolescent Cue Cards. (Scroll down to Adolescent Cue Cards.) These colorful and user-friendly job aids for providers offer helpful information and tips specific to the reproductive health needs of youth. Each of the two-sided cards covers a different contraceptive method. (Pathfinder International, 2003)
 
Contraceptive Options for Young Adults. This is one of four sections of a training module on Reproductive Health of Young Adults, which can be used by a presenter or in a self-study format. It provides an overview of information about all contraceptive methods as they relate to youth. (Family Health International, 2003)
 
Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use. A useful overview of contraceptive options, with details on effectiveness rates and medical issues. A useful job aid “wheel” on the methods is also available. (World Health Organization, 2004)
 

Meeting the Needs of Young Clients: A Guide to Providing Reproductive Health Services to Adolescents. Although the numbers of young people who need information and services are enormous, services are scarce, fragmented, or nonexistent. This manual helps service providers and health workers strengthen the reproductive health care and services offered to young women and men. (Family Health International, 2000)

Disclaimer: The information provided on this web site is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development, the U.S. Government or The Johns Hopkins University.