Research Tools
Youth sexual and reproductive health programs and research require a variety of tools to conduct meaningful research, program monitoring, and evaluation.
This page provides research tools and guidance for public health practitioners and researchers working with youth.
Other research issues specific to youth, such as study recruitment and retention as well as youth self-reporting biases, may be addressed on this page in the future. If you have information that you think would be useful to researchers or suggestions for developing this page, please let us know. Examples might include study recruitment, retention, self-reporting biases at
youthwg@fhi.org (subject line: Research tools page on Web site).
Click on the following topic areas for more information:
A Rapid Assessment of Youth-Friendly Reproductive Health Services (PDF, 204 KB)
This tool was developed to facilitate the rapid assessment of youth-friendly characteristics, using the clinic assessment tool described above, providing the basis for developing and implementing a comprehensive action plan. (Pathfinder, 2003)
Assessing the Quality of Youth Peer Education Programmes (PDF, 571 KB)
This tool guides program managers in assessing a peer education program using a series of checklists. Developed through YouthNet's peer education research project and part of the
Youth Peer Education Toolkit, these evidence-based checklists can be used to gather the most essential information for determining how a peer education project can best function and can be compared over time and across programs. (FHI/YouthNet and UNFPA, 2006)
Clinic Assessment of Youth-Friendly Services: A Tool for Improving Reproductive Health Services for Youth (PDF, 3.6 MB)
This tool helps program managers and clinicians determine the extent to which current reproductive health services are youth-friendly. Results from the tool can be used to tailor services to better meet the needs and preferences of young people. Under the African Youth Alliance (AYA) Project, Pathfinder conducted baseline assessments in Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ghana using this tool. (Pathfinder, 2003)
Conducting a Participatory Situation Analysis of Orphans and Vulnerable Children Affected by HIV/AIDS: Guidelines and Tools (PDF, 1.93 MB)
These tools provide guidance on conducting a situation analysis to help build consensus and produce sound recommendations regarding orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS. The 210-page guide offers sample consent forms, baseline surveys and interview guides, which can be adapted for local use. Because this resource is focused on children, it features a special emphasis on ethical considerations for information-gathering. (FHI, 2005) This is also available in
French (PDF, 1.3 MB). (Plan International, 2006)
Data Collection Instruments
AIDSQuest: The HIV/AIDS Survey Library
Full Instruments and Overviews of Surveys: Development and Use
This page includes surveys, many on youth, listed by primary organization. Each survey includes a summary on where the instrument has been used and with which populations, as well the validity and reliability of the instrument when available. Instruments are provided as either Microsoft Word, PDF files, or as a link to an external website.
This collection of tools for researchers includes a
questionnaire (PDF, 125 KB),
focus group discussion guide (PDF, 25 KB), and
in-depth interview guide. They serve as a starting point for investigators wishing to study the sexual and reproductive health of young people. They are also available in
French. (UNDP/UNFPA/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP))
Behavior Surveillance Surveys: Guidelines for Repeated Behavioral Surveys in Populations at Risk of HIV (PDF, 2.81 MB)
Behavior surveillance surveys (BSS) use reliable methods to track HIV risk behaviors over time as part of an integrated surveillance system which monitors various aspects of the epidemic. They are especially useful in providing information on behaviors among sub-populations who may be difficult to reach through traditional household surveys, including unmarried youth. These guidelines are designed to provide a "one-stop" reference to help public health official set up and manage systems that provide reliable trends in HIV risk behaviors. Information is also provided to help those who will be implementing the surveys themselves. (FHI, 2000)
Protecting the Next Generation Data and Survey Instruments
Data and survey instruments from the
Protecting the Next Generation: Understanding HIV Risk among Youth study in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda project are now available to the public.
This page contains details on timing, conditions of availability, and request procedures for the data sets and instruments. (Guttmacher Institute, 2007)
School-based Survey on Risk and Resiliency Behaviours of 10-15 Year Olds (PDF, 2.2 MB)
The survey instrument (included as an appendix to a larger report) was used for an in-school study in 2005 examining Jamaican youth age 10-15. It covers questions on risk and resiliency to determine factors that provide protection from teen pregnancy, HIV/AIDS, and violence and obesity to inform programs targeted at the early adolescent period. (MEASURE Evaluation, 2007)
Tools for Research on Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing and Reproductive Health Services for Youth in Tanzania
Below are tools used in research that described the health needs of youth seeking HIV voluntary counseling and testing services (VCT) and contraceptive services using several sources (mystery clients, youth clients, and providers). Research tools also examine the quality of care offered to youth at these clinics and the relationship between youth's intended and actual risk behaviors following VCT.
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Structured Client Exit Interviews (MS Word, 315 KB)
Interviews were conducted for youth clients attending VCT services and those attending other RH services who had never used VCT but who were sexually active. The interview includes both open and fixed-response questions concerning knowledge, risk behaviors, perceived risk, referrals, and experience with the service. Exit Interview Guide for Youth VCT Clients
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Provider Interviews
This survey includes questions on VCT provider’s knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
Provider Survey: VCT and Youth Semi-structured Interviews
These qualitative interview guides aimed to document youth’s intended and actual risk behaviors following VCT among a subset of youth participating in the exit interviews.
In-Depth Interview Guide: Reproductive Health and VCT Clients (MS Word, 36 KB)
In-Depth Interview Guide: Reproductive Health Clients (MS Word, 39 KB)
In-Depth Interview Guide: VCT Clients (MS Word, 39 KB)
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Mystery Clients (MS Word, 70 KB)
This tool can be used to gather information from mystery clients about the services they encountered.
Mystery Client Instrument
Youth-Friendly Survey.
Your Comments Count!
This client exit survey designed to assess the level of satisfaction of young clients with the services they receive, and to help providers of youth and administrators identify areas for service improvement. The survey is organized around five areas: accessibility of services, confidentiality of services, options available to young people, friendliness of staff, and friendliness of the center/services. The downloadable ZIP archive contains the following files: Introduction and Instructions, Survey, Instructions for Analysis, Code Sheet, and Excel Spreadsheet. (International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region, 2002)
Data Sets
Demographic and Health Surveys Program
This
Web site contains dataavailable for free from more than 75 countries. Tools include STAT compilers to build customized tables from hundreds of Demographic and Health Surveysand indicators, STATmapper, the HIV Survey Indicators Database, and more. The
MEASURE DHS “youth corner” contains data on youth from the Demographic and Health Surveys, organized in useful “quick stats,” as well as longer publications from DHS youth results.
Protecting the Next Generation Data and Survey Instruments
Data and survey instruments from the Protecting the Next Generation: Understanding HIV Risk among Youth study in Burkina Faso, Ghana, Malawi, and Uganda project are now available to the public. This page contains details on timing, conditions of availability, and request procedures for the data sets and instruments. (Guttmacher Institute, 2007)
Monitoring and Evaluation
A Guide to Monitoring and Evaluating Adolescent Reproductive Health Programs
Part 1: The How-To’s of Monitoring and Evaluation
Part 2: Instruments
This 450-page publication, divided into the two sections shown here, provides a comprehensive guide to researching youth projects, with sample instruments to use. Although it was produced in 2000, it still provides a basic guide for youth research projects. The guide is broken into smaller files, for ease of downloading. (Pathfinder, Focus on Young Adults, 2000)
Assessing the Quality of Youth Peer Education Programmes (PDF, 571 KB)
This tool guides program managers in assessing a peer education program using a series of checklists. Developed through YouthNet's peer education research project and part of the Youth Peer Education Toolkit, these evidence-based checklists can be used to gather the most essential information for determining how a peer education project can best function and can be compared over time and across programs. (FHI/YouthNet and UNFPA, 2006)
Guide to Monitoring and Evaluation of the National Response for Children Orphaned and Made Vulnerable by HIV/AIDS (PDF, 695 KB)
This document provides guidance for monitoring and evaluating the national response for children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. It includes methods and tools for measurement at the national level. The indicators in this guide supplement the UN General Assembly Special Session on HIV/AIDS (UNGASS/AIDS) and MDG ‘orphan school attendance’ indicator with a set of recommended standardized core indicators that each country could monitor to assess the effectiveness of its national response.(UNICEF, 2005)
Indicators for Reproductive Health Program Evaluation: Final Report of the Subcommittee on Adolescent Reproductive Health Services (PDF, 465 KB)
This report, by a subcommittee of the Reproductive Health Indicators Working Group, identifies and describes indicators judged to be most useful for evaluating reproductive health programs. (MEASURE Evaluation, 1995)
Health Services Research
A Rapid Assessment of Youth-Friendly Reproductive Health Services (PDF, 204 KB)
This tool was developed to facilitate the rapid assessment of youth-friendly characteristics, using the clinic assessment tool described above, providing the basis for developing and implementing a comprehensive action plan. (Pathfinder, 2003)
Clinic Assessment of Youth-Friendly Services: A Tool for Improving Reproductive Health Services for Youth (PDF, 3.6 MB)
This tool helps program managers and clinicians determine the extent to which current reproductive health services are youth-friendly. Results from the tool can be used to tailor services to better meet the needs and preferences of young people. Under the African Youth Alliance (AYA) Project, Pathfinder conducted baseline assessments in Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ghana using this tool. (Pathfinder, 2003)
Tools for Research on Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing and Reproductive Health Services for Youth in Tanzania
Below are tools used in research that described the health needs of youth seeking HIV voluntary counseling and testing services (VCT) and contraceptive services using several sources (mystery clients, youth clients, and providers). Research tools also examine the quality of care offered to youth at these clinics and the relationship between youth's intended and actual risk behaviors following VCT.
-
Structured Client Exit Interviews (MS Word, 315 KB)
Interviews were conducted for youth clients attending VCT services and those attending other RH services who had never used VCT but who were sexually active. The interview includes both open and fixed-response questions concerning knowledge, risk behaviors, perceived risk, referrals, and experience with the service. Exit Interview Guide for Youth VCT Clients
-
Provider Interviews
This survey includes questions on VCT provider’s knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding adolescent sexual and reproductive health.
Provider Survey: VCT and Youth Semi-structured Interviews
These qualitative interview guides aimed to document youth’s intended and actual risk behaviors following VCT among a subset of youth participating in the exit interviews.
In-Depth Interview Guide: Reproductive Health and VCT Clients (MS Word, 36 KB)
In-Depth Interview Guide: Reproductive Health Clients (MS Word, 39 KB)
In-Depth Interview Guide: VCT Clients (MS Word, 39 KB)
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Mystery Clients (MS Word, 70 KB)
This tool can be used to gather information from mystery clients about the services they encountered.
Mystery Client Instrument
Youth-Friendly Survey. Your Comments Count!
This client exit survey designed to assess the level of satisfaction of young clients with the services they receive, and to help providers of youth and administrators identify areas for service improvement. The survey is organized around five areas: accessibility of services, confidentiality of services, options available to young people, friendliness of staff, and friendliness of the center/services. The downloadable ZIP archive contains the following files: Introduction and Instructions, Survey, Instructions for Analysis, Code Sheet, and Excel Spreadsheet. (International Planned Parenthood Federation/Western Hemisphere Region, 2002)
New Techniques
PLACE Methodology. Risk-Taking Behaviors among Youth Socializing in Target Venues of Carrefour, Haiti: Adaptation of the Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts (PLACE) Methodology (PDF, 687 KB)
The Priorities for Local AIDS Control Efforts (PLACE) method identifies areas likely to have a higher incidence of HIV infection, and within these areas, specific venues where AIDS prevention programs could target potentially high risk adolescents. This 67-page report discusses a modified PLACE approach used to better understand HIV prevention programming needs and risk-taking behaviors of young people in Carrefour, Haiti. (MEASURE Evaluation, 2007)
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.
