International Association for Adolescent Health World Congress 2…
Some more snippets from the IAAH 9th World Congress
Youth Commentary
Dr Illias Adam Lee
This is a blog, not a word for word recount of the conference, so I must say that I was disappointed in this ‘youth commentary’ as very little of it was a youth commentary, much more of it was a service profile. Some interesting points were made though.
Dr Lee reiterated the fact that youth and young people are not a homogeneous group. They are made up of different subcultures and groups and are going through a transitional time in their lives, as workers we need to be ready to adapt to these changes.
He spoke also about the five As of Penang Family Planning Association which could be a good framework for our health promotion
- Advocacy
- Abortion
- Access
- Adolescents
- AIDS/HIV.
Teenz Bistari Program
Dr. Siti Nurbaya binti Shahir
Dr. Shahir responded to a double in the number of unwed mothers in her district of work in 2005/06. It was a particular problem for her area because all the young women becoming pregnant would stop study, and most would end up relying on Malaysian welfare payments.
In response, Dr. Shahir started a three prong program which included an education session, promotion materials and an SMS service. The education sessions were open to 100 girls from each of the 5 schools in the area who are identified as problematic. To be problematic a girl could fall under any of the following categories:
- Has had a boyfriend
- Has been reported for truancy
- Has run away from home
- Difficult family issues
- Parents dissatisfied with children’s behaviour
The program is interesting for a few reasons. The education session is run by the local doctor (Dr. Shahir) and the teachers of the girls, and includes a question and answer section. Due to Muslim custom, abstinence is the line put forward, but the doctor makes it know that if girls require help with contraception she is willing to do that outside the realms of the education session. At each session she has run she has had between 15 and 30 questions, which indicates a group willing to learn.
The SMS service is run solely by the doctor, who will even reply to SMSs at 3am, if she is up. AT least 31 girls use the service and most use it more than once, having conversation and follow up, often including referral to the doctors office.
The SMS service is advertised with banners and bookmarks available to see by all school children in the area and focus on the messages that ‘sex before marriage can cause damage’, ‘girls deserve to be treated with respect’ and ‘the SMS service is confidential’. Fantastic messages.
I’m in Control : Community Based Skill Building
Norzila Ahmad
In Malaysia, over 50% of HIV new infections are occurring in under 25s.
A baby is left abandoned every 5 days.
50% of rape victims are under 18.
84% of rape victims know their victims.
The situation in the home of the conference can be dire for young people, and the levels of education are not great either.
Only 54% of young people in a survey could identify reproductive organs.
Ms. Ahmad spoke about the service Kafe@TEEN which has three health services in Malaysia. It was inspiring to see a health service which was so holistic and had so many soft entry points, and was working so well. In three years of operation they have provided counselling to 5000 young people and provided outreach service to over 84000 young people.
Services provided included net cafes, gyms, libraries, camps and of course clinical health services and counselling.
Now, that’s a good model to look up to.
