Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights of Adolescents

Country

Russia.

Period 

1998-1999 and 2000-2001.

Recipient.

Russian Family Planning Association, RFPA.

Funding agency

Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Sida.

Description

Overall objective is to improve the reproductive health of adolescents in seven regions: Moscow, St Petersburg, Pskov, Novgorod, Petrozavodsk, Murmansk and Archangelsk. Specific objectives are:

• To expand and improve the cooperation between RFPA and education, health and other concerned authorities in adolescents sexual and reproductive health issues.
• To introduce and expand sexuality and interpersonal relations education in and out of schools.
  

Implemented activities include study visits, seminars , conference and training of trainers. The target group for the overall project objectives is adolescents living in the north-western part of Russia and for the specific project objectives the target groups are the health and education sector professionals at national, regional and institutional levels, RFPA headquarters and local branch representatives.

Outcome:   

The project has resulted in the following activities:

• 8-hours seminars for teachers, social workers and medical staff have been organized by RFPA branch in Novgorod in order to initiate a joint discussion on youth reproductive health. During the seminars gathered data on the SRH status in Novgorod was presented.
• A mobile team for SRH financed by local authorities has been set up in Novgorod.
• The project activities have lead to increased cooperation between the health and education specialists in schools and Family Planning Centre.
• Training seminars for health and educational specialists have been organized in order to teach the methods for SRH education taught by RFSU. It is a consensual opinion that the methodology is very innovative for the Russian tradition.
• Advocacy meetings with parents have been organized in order to increase the involvement and understanding of adolescent SRH.
• RFPA in Petrozavodsk has developed a scheme for SRH seminars for students at colleges for teachers and medical doctors in order to train the new generation of doctors and teachers on how to deal with ASRH.
• In Petrozavodsk participants in the ToT training of the project have organized peer education.
• In Archangelsk an information corner for adolescents with information on SRH and condoms has been set up in a paediatric outpatients department.
• A gynaecological consultation place for youth has been opened in Novgorod.