ERIC ED438920: Adolescence Education Newsletter, 1998.

52 Pages·1998·1.6 MB·English

by  ERIC

DOCUMENT RESUME
ED 438 920
PS 028 338
AUTHOR
Villanueva, Carmelita L., Ed.; Padilla, Teresita M., Ed.
TITLE
Adolescence Education Newsletter, 1998.
INSTITUTION
United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural
Organization, Bangkok (Thailand). Clearing House on
Population Education and Communication.
SPONS AGENCY
United Nations Fund for Population Activities, New York, NY.
PUB DATE 1998-00-00
NOTE
51p.; Published semi-annually.
CONTRACT
RAS/96/P02
Collected Works
PUB TYPE
Serials (022)
JOURNAL CIT
Adolescence Education Newsletter; vl n1-2 Jun-Dec 1998
EDRS PRICE
MF01/PC03 Plus Postage.
DESCRIPTORS
Adolescent Attitudes; Adolescent Development; *Adolescents;
Birth; Birth Rate; Contraception; Early Parenthood; *Family
Planning; Foreign Countries; Health Promotion; Pregnancy;
Puberty; Reproduction (Biology); *Sex Education; *Sexuality;
*Well Being; Youth Problems
IDENTIFIERS
*Asia Pacific Region; Sex Knowledge; Sexual Attitudes;
Sexual Relationships
ABSTRACT
This document comprises two issues of a new UNESCO
newsletter addressing topics related to adolescent well-being in the
Asia-Pacific region, particularly reproductive and sexual health. Both issues
contain news from the region on various initiatives related to adolescent
health and education, as well as Web links and publications on the subject.
Each issue also contains a feature addressing program guidelines. June's
feature is "What Makes Sex Education Programmes Succeed," while December's
feature is "Effective and Ineffective School-Based Sex and HIV/AIDS Education
Programmes." Countries covered in the issues include Bangladesh, Cambodia,
China, India, Indonesia, the Pacific Islands, Pakistan, Philippines,
Thailand, Vietnam, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. The brief articles
provide various statistics, program descriptions, guidelines, concerns, and
recommendations related to improving adolescent reproductive health and
general well-being in this region.
(EV)
Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made
from the original document.
P5
Adolescence Education Newsletter, 1998
Published by:
Regional Clearing House on Population
Education and Communication
UNESCO Principal Regional Office of
Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok
BEST COPY AVAILABLE
E Vol. 1, No.
,
UNESCO
June 1998
Published by the Regional
Clearing House on
Population Education and
-J
Communication of UNESCO
Principal Regional Office
1-/
of Asia and the Pacific,
Bangkok.
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National News
Regional News
International News
7
Feature:
Programme Guidelines
Publications
Web Links
What makes sex education
programmes succeed
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The World Health Orga-
nization defines adoles-
cence as the age range
10 toll 9 years. As the
GLOBAL GAMS M ADOLIESCIERIU
transition period from
IMPIROOMFOWIE MEALUN anrz
childhood to adulthood,
adolescence is marked by
distinct biological, physi-
cal and psychological
changes. For adolescents
Jane Fonda of the
in the Asia-Pacific region,
Georgia Campaign
this period is further
on Adolescent
Pregnancy
compounded by tremen-
Prevention and
Dr. Nafis Sadik,
dous diversity in the
UNFPA Executive
demographic, economic,
Director. (UNFPA
photo)
socio-cultural and ethnic
factors that affect them.
The International Conference on
Dr. Sadik acknowledged that
The 30 Round Table partici-.
Population and Development
"the hardest thing is to change
pants from 24 countries in-
(ICPD) held in 1994 in Cairo
the minds of those who feel that
cluded experts on sex education
paved the way for significant
providing reproductive health
and adolescent health from
achievements in promoting
services for young people leads
governments, academia, NGOs
adolescent reproductive health
to promiscuity. We need to find
and foundations, as well as
and rights. The need to further
ways to have a dialogue with
youth advocates of adolescent
strengthen these gains was
those in opposition. Our position
sexual and reproductive rights.
discussed at two major
should be open, non-emotional
Their discussions covered
international events.
and based on facts and the
adolescent access to reproduc-
needs of young people."
tive and sexual health services
At the UNFPA Round Table on
and the quality of services
Adolescent Reproductive Health
The round table was organized
provided, the roles of parents
and Rights, held on 14-17 April
to review programme experi-
and schools, relevant legisla-
1998, UNFPA Executive
ences and policy changes
tion, community involvement
Director, Dr. Nafis Sadik said
initiated since the Cairo confer-
and participatory approaches to
that advocacy programmes,
ence, and to identify successful
ARH programmes, mobilization
which involve the participation
approaches to satisfy adoles-
of resources, and future actions.
of informed and articulate
cent reproductive and sexual
young persons and NGO
health needs. The remaining
networks, play a crucial role in
constraints faced by countries
strengthening these gains.
were also discussed.
.tiouzpi.EscENcE
[t DUCATION
NEWSLETTER
The recommendations issued at
MM HG
OCPID NIESSaGE Oil
the Round Table called on ARH
programmes to duly consider
ADOLESCEE4 IREPRODUCURYIE FIEGEM
the following strategic moves:
involve diverse groups of young
from WHO, the IPPF Assistant
The ICPD message is being
people and key community
heard loud and clear: inter-
Secretary-General, two UNFPA
groups, collaborate with NGOs
headquarters staff, and
agency cooperation is the correct
and other partners, including
11 observers, including a
approach to global issues. This
women's groups, promote open
UNESCO consultant who
was re-echoed at the CST/TSS
discussion of sexuality, utilize a
prepared the workshop's
Thematic Workshop on Adult
range of quality communication
background document.
Reproductive Health, held on
resources, train health care
10-14 February 1997 at
professionals and provide
Opportunities to promote and
UNESCO, Paris. The workshop
counselling, and develop indi-
provide ARH programmes and
was organized jointly by
cators for evaluating the non-
services abound. Some that
UNESCO and UNFPA.
physical aspects of adolescence.
were cited at the workshop were
the NGOs' acknowledged
The workshop provided
capacity to provide adolescent
regional perspectives on
services, donors' increased
the current status of ARH,
'''Ygo.frAMAYAWM
awareness of adolescent issues,
identified gaps in current
1:)1525.7712267rA
youth potential for mobilization
efforts to address adoles-
and delivery of services, private
cent reproductive health
More than 50% of the world's population
sector involvement in service
needs, and defined
are below the age of 25; about one-fifth
delivery, increased attention to
strategies to fill these
are adolescents.
social mobilization, modern
gaps.
Adolescents comprise about one-fifth of
communication technologies,
the total population In Asia and the
inter-regional exchange of
Mr. Gustavo Lopez
Pacific; when added to the 20-24 year old
experiences, and improved
Ospina, Director of EPD,
cohort, they form 29 per cent of the
region's population.
organizational capacity for
UNESCO, called for
gender-sensitive interventions.
"a clear global vision of
While the absolute number of adoles-
issues, emphasizing both
cents in East Asia is declining, it is rapidly
The workshop called attention
social and economic
growing In South-Central Asia, due to
the delayed onset of fertility decline.
to five major principles sur-
factors that create
Growth is relatively slow in Southeast
rounding comprehensive
unstable conditions for
Asia.
advocacy and IEC, as follows:
adolescents, particularly
adopting appropriate policies,
those that erode the
Considerable growth variations are seen
in the broad sub-regions. During 1995-
creating a supportive environ-
foundations of societies
2020, an 85 per cent growth Is expected
ment, strengthening community
and families." The
in Pakistan, 24 per cent in India, 18 per
actions, developing adolescent
workshop participants
cent in the Philippines, and one per cent
skills in exercising greater self-
included 19 CST advis-
in Indonesia. However, the numbers are
expected to decline by seven per cent in
control, and re-orienting health
ers, seven TSS special-
Thailand and 10 per cent in China.
services to make them more
ists, two ARH specialists
receptive to adolescent needs.
Despite deceleration in the adolescent
population growth, due to the increase
in elderly population and to fertility
decline, the next 10 to15 years will be a
challenging period for adolescent health
in view of the rapidly changing eco-
nomic and social environment of the
Asia-Pacific region.
The above ARH profile and all other ARH
profiles in this publication are from Jones
W.G. (1997). Population dynamics and
their impact on adolescents in the ESCAP
region: Asia-Pacific Population Journal,
Vol. 12 No.3.
Volume 1
No. 1
I 3
Qua
June 1998
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:09e-npriate information
..!?<1."
This was one of the many recommendations put forward at the session on adolescent reproductive
health(ARH), during the High-Level Meeting to Review the Implementation of the Programme of
Action (POA} of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the Bali
Declaration on Population and Sustainable Development and to Make Recommendations for Further
Action. The Meeting was held on 24-27 March 1998 in Bangkok, Thailand.
The Meeting recognized the various problems faced by adolescents In Asia and the Pacific and called
attention to the role of governments in future action programmes at the national and regional levels
(see following story).
In attendance were 94 senior level officials from governments and NGOs from 29 countries. They
joined representatives from UN agencies (UNCHS, UNICEF, UNIFEM, UNDP, UNEP and UNAIDS),specialized
agencies and related organizations (FAO, UNESCO, WHO, UPU}, inter-governmental organizations (ADB,
10M, Partners in Population and Development), NGOs (AFPPD, TPPF, WFWF, ICOMP, PATH, ARROW, FPIA)
Staff from UNFPA, including
and observers from the. Holy See (Apostolic Nunciature in Thailand).
UNFPA/CST Bangkok and Kathmandu, and ESCAP also attended.
The High Level Meeting to Review
(i) [Don
-12wo 2
i(Dila
the Implementation of the ICPD/POA
and the Bali Declaration called
attention to the role of governments.
The Meeting was held in Bangkok on
and the formulation of
10 Governments should differentiate
24-27 March 1998.
interventions.
groups of adolescents and youth
in designing appropriate
In partnership with community
E
o Governments should follow a
programmes (including training
groups, governments should
holistic approach to youth
and skills development) for in-
develop a mechanism to improve
development activities,
school, out-of-school and
the provision of reproductive health
incorporating educational,
employed adolescents and youth.
information and services to
vocational, recreational and
adolescents and youth within a
other activities, where
o In cooperation with international
friendly and enabling environment.
appropriate.
agencies and community groups,
Advocacy and awareness cam-
governments should undertake
paigns should be conducted for
o Governments should promote
research into the most effective
adult opinion leaders.
research to support reproduc-
methods of obtaining the partici-
tive health programmes,
pation of youth and adolescents
in Governments are strongly urged to
covering inter alia youth
in programmes that are designed
involve adolescents and youth in
sexuality, gender relations,
to serve their needs. Moreover,
the conceptualization, manage-
reproductive health problems,
governments are urged to collect
ment and implementation and
and violence against women
more and better data on
monitoring of youth programmes.
and children. Research is
adolescent sexuality and
Adolescents and youth should also
needed in project fofmulation,
behaviour. These will be useful
be used as trainers and counsel-
implementation, and project
inputs for programme planning
lors for their peer groups.
evaluation.
AlguESCEntdoCNE
NEWSLETTER
cpanii PvaonUall
Demographic, socio-cultural
and economic factors and
policies exert tremendous
influence on the full develop-
ment of the youth. These,
combined with recent trends in
rural-urban and international
migration and changing family
structures, bear far-reaching
implications for adolescent
welfare, including the issue of
reproductive health.
The Expert Group Meeting on
Adolescents: Implications of
Population Trends, Environment
and Development addressed
seven priority areas: policy
advocacy, socio-cultural and
gender perspectives, education,
accessibility to reproductive
health services and information,
sensitizing policy makers,
The Meeting's recommenda-
research and research design,
service providers, parents and
tions focussed on the following:
data and information, and the
teachers and community
role of international agencies.
leaders in the life-cycle
mdevelopment of active
The Meeting was held on 30
approach to ARH, supported
advocacy programmes to
September - 2 October 1997 in
by appropriate training
promote positive societal
Bangkok.
approaches and development
attitudes towards adolescent
of suitable IEC materials,
issues, including gender
Organized by ESCAP with
improved access to adoles-
issues,
UNFPA support, the Meeting
cent-friendly reproductive
was attended by 25 participants,
health services, and effective
equitable access to education
including eight invited experts,
use of media and information
regardless of sex, ethnic and
two resource persons, and
technology, and
socio-economic background,
advisers from the UNFPA
incorporation of family life
Country Support Team for East
greater role by international
education (covering gender
and Southeast Asia (Bangkok)
organizations in creating
issues and reproductive
and representatives of UNFPA,
public awareness of adoles-
health) in formal education,
and the Population Council.
cent and youth issues,
and implementation of family
developing relevant data sets
life education programmes by
and research protocols to
governments, NGOs, commu-
better understand the situa-
nity groups, religious organi-
tion and the needs of adoles-
zations, and the media,
cents in a constantly changing
environment, and building
national capacities through
information sharing.
7
Volume 1
No. 1
June 1998
7ein
E7.7 = Drip In MIK] ERDrill Count rIes
7-r.fl,
4n
Delayed childbearing has significant
Fewer women are becoming
health benefits for both mother and
mothers before age 20,
baby. The risk of death during
according to a recent
childbirth is two to four times higher
analysis by The Allan
among women aged 17 and
Guttmacher Institute (AGI),
06,
younger, than among women aged
entitled, "Risks and Realities
20 and older. The risk of death in
of Early Childbearing
the first year of life is typically
Worldwide." The trend is
greater by 30 per cent or higher
markedly observed in Asia,
among babies whose mothers are
North Africa, Middle East and
young (aged 15-19), than among
in some parts of Latin
those whose mothers are older
America.
(aged 20-29).
Depthnews
Adolescents (10-19 years old)
account for one-fifth of the
world's 5.7 billion people, the
largest generation of youth in
history. Their sheer size
5
MARRIAGE AND FERTILITY
commands attention: adoles-
PROFILE
cents number nearly 1.1
billion - 913 million in develop-
Eln South Asia, the age at marriage for women is generally low. In Bangladesh,.
about 50 per cent of women aged 20-24 are married by age 15 and 80 per
ing countries and 260 million
cent by age 20. In India and Nepal, 71 and 76 per cent of the women are
in developed countries.
married by age 20. In Sri Lanka, 76 per cent of the women marry In their 20s.
In Bangladesh, eight per cent of boys in the age group 15-19, compared to 76
Worldwide, some 15 million
per cent of girls in the same age group, are married.
births occur annually among
adolescent women, account-
E. Other countries In the region show a trend towards increasing age at mar-
ing for slightly more than 10
riage for both sexes. Marriage before the age of 20 has almost disappeared in
per cent of all births. Ms.
Singapore and the Republic of Korea, and has decreased
Jeannie Rosof, AGI Presi-
sharply in Indonesia and Malaysia.
dent, finds delayed
childbearing among young
11 Teen marriage In India and Pakistan has dropped to a level comparable to
women an encouraging
Indonesia and Thailand. In Bangladesh, it has declined from 75 per cent in
development. Although 1974 to 51 per cent in 1991.
uneven, the progress sug-
IllSocio-economic developments, such as improved education, increased
gests enormous potential for
urbanization, more employment opportunities, and greater access to
swifter change, "if more is
communication technologies have a positive influence on age at marriage.
done to support adolescents
in their life-altering decisions."
Adolescence has become an extended period before marriage, raising issues
about pre-marital sexuality and relationships with the opposite sex.
Large declines are evident in
In countries where early age at marriage Is common, fertility at young ages
Asia. In China eight percent of
tends to be high due to pressure on the wedded couple to begin childbearing.
women aged 20-25 have their
first child during adolescence,
O Age-specific fertility rates are lowest in East Asla (ranging from 4-5 births per
contrasting with 22 per cent of
1000 women aged 15-19) and are highest in South Asia (ranging from 71-119
women aged 40-44. The
births per 1000 women).
corresponding figures in other
countries are 16 per cent and
Teenage pregnancy, a better Indicator of fertility rates, Is difficult to deter-
31 per cent in Sri Lanka, 21
mine because of the unsystematic collection of data.
per cent and 26 per cent in
the Philippines, and 33
1=1 Declining teenage fertility rate and increasing contraceptive use among older
percent and 51 per cent in
women imply the concentration of fertility among adolescents.
Indonesia.
VOLESCENCE
14
TIEVISL°ETTER
ETR Associates
http://www.etrassociates.org
Address: PO Box 1830, Santa Cruz
CA 95061-1830, USA
E-mail: [email protected]
This website offers a complete line of innovative, practical
health education books, pamphlets, curricula and videos,
providing youth and adults with critical health messages.
Materials cover the full spectrum of health education topics
from reproductive and maternal/child health to HIV/AIDS,
STDs, substance abuse, injury prevention, violence and self-
Featuring interesting websites on adolescent
esteem. The website also includes facts about ETR. An online
reproductive health and sexuality education; a rich
catalog and ordering service are provided. In addition, the
resource for policy making and programme formu-
ETR Program Services Division provides services for health
lation, particularly for teaching, training, discus-
and sexuality education, including teacher and staff training,
sions and exchange of experiences.
research project and programme evaluation, development of
model programmes, technical assistance in programme
Advocates for Youth
implementation, curriculum and materials development and
http://www.advocatesforyouth.org
clearing house services.
Address: 1025 Vermont Avenue,
N.W. Suite 200
Network: Adolescent Reproductive
Washington DC 20005, USA
Health, Spring 1997, Vol. 17, No.33
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.fhlorg/fp/fpppubs/
network
This is an advocacy organization which deals with US and
Address: Family Health International,
international issues on youth, sex education, contraception,
PO Box 139050,
drugs and alcohol, and relevant decision-making. It offers
Research Triangle Park, NC27709
overviews and descriptions of programmes on HIV/AIDS
USA
prevention, international programmes, peer education, media
projects, sexuality education and teen pregnancy prevention.
This site is part of the website of Family Health International.
"Proud Pete" is online, demonstrating safe and correct
This magazine's Volume 17 No. 33 issue is wholly devoted to
condom use. it also includes a bulletin board for peer
adolescent reproductivehealth. The full text of all the nine
education trainers, provides legislative updates, and maintains
articles included in this issue is provided. The topics include
a specialized library supplying information on youth issues.
an introduction to the concept of adolescent reproductive
health; contraceptive methods for young adults; how gender
Mezzo
norms affect adolescents; how education protects health and
http://www.ippf.org/mezzo/main.htm
delays sex; key factors that help programmes succeed; the
Address: c/o International Planned
role of the media in promoting clear understanding of
M
Parenthood Federation,
adolescent health and the pressures that the youth are usually
Regent's College, Inner Circle,
subjected to.
Regent Park, London, UK
E- mail:ippfinfo @ippf.attmail.com
I---._
ore-11MI NIEST-.5r,47-5111111
World Health Organization
http://www.who.org
This is an online guide to love and relationships for young
Address: Adolescent Health Unit,
1948
people by young people. Guidelines on the rights of young
Family and Reproductive Health
1998
people and their proper treatment by health professionals are
Programme, Geneva, Switzerland
provided. The section on teen lifestyle offers advice on sexual
E-mail: publications @who.ch
11071D MIAMI CaVAICIAMISO
relationships and discusses issues on healthy loving. The
section on safe sex offers a guide to contraceptive choice.The
WHO's worldwide programmes and activities on adolescent
website provides an interactive discussion forum in the Dear
reproductive health have given the organization extensive
Pramilla section, which offers consultation and counselling on
experience and data on ARH. This website's library catalogue
youth problems. A youth discussion forum, one of the
offers easy access to ARH materials. Included in this
website's highlights, deals with topics of immediate interest,
information resource collection are training materials for
such as friendship, sexuality, love and relationships, marriage
developing counselling skills in adolescent sexuality and
and choice of a partner, contraception, pregnancy and
health problems. It suggests policies, legislation and
parenthood, STD, HIV/AIDS, abortion, and education.
programmes to promote adolescent health.
A compendium of projects and programmes dealing with
different approaches to adolescent health and development is
provided. Also available are research guides and methods for
studying behavioural patterns of young people, as well as
materials for research and training workshops in adolescent
reproductive health. Materials dealing with policy and strategy
concerning different aspects of adolescent reproductive
health, such as adolescent pregnancy and public policy, and
premature adolescent pregnancy and parenthood.
Volume 1
No. 1
7
aIj
June 1998
Popeektiooy edavatioog
eo? Ogg:
PSTC copeciewoo
Masai* de goad dmongh goad olgain
Selected female adolescents from
different communities, aged 9-19
In Bangladesh, the youth (aged 15-30) make up a third of the country's
years old, participated in a training
total population of 124.3 million in 1997. A UNFPA-supported project,
program organized by the Population
Involvement of Youths in Population and Family Welfare Activities through
Services and Training Center (PSTC).
Youth Clubs, demonstrates the effectiveness of mechanisms drawn up to
The training focussed on such topics
reach this important population group. The project was carried out from
as personal health, the disadvantages
July 1995 to December 1997.
of early marriage and the advantages
of delayed marriage, childbirth,
immunization, and family planning
eligible couples. The project
The project, which was executed
methods. The selection process gave
conducted a primary health
by the Ministry of Youth and
priority to single, adolescent females
programme, which benefitted 23,000
Sports, adopted a two-pronged,
who are permanently residing in the
women and children, health card
nationwide strategy: it provided
project areas.
and sanitation programmes, and
training in family life education to
workshops on population issues.
representatives from 74 youth
The programme was aimed at
Appropriate IEC materials were
training centres, and launched
strengthening family planning and
population activities through 200
produced.
mother and child health services by
youth clubs in 98 thanas.
integrating population education
How have the
programmes with
youth benefitted?
The issues covered in the training
existing programmes
Significant
included human growth and
targetting adolescent
improvements
development, population educa-
girls in its supported
have been noted
tion as a means to achieve a
NGO projects. Non-
in their knowledge
planned family, population and the
formal education in
of population-
environment, food and nutrition,
population education
youth leadership through youth
related concerns,
issues was provided
including health,
clubs, and measures to solve
by field supervisors
nutrition, mater-
population-related problems.
and field workers
nal and child
through one-hour
As part of the population activities
care, sanitation,
meetings held
launched through youth clubs, the
environmental,
fortnightly.
conservation, and
project conducted benchmark
surveys of the priority areas
other ARH-related
issues.
identified by individual clubs.
Meetings were held with commu-
nity and religious leaders and
AQPLESCENCE
LaUcATiON
81
NEWSLETTER