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Preparing adolescents to make informed choices
One of the most sensitive issues associated with adolescents and young people is sexuality. Young people in relation to their reproductive and sexual health face diverse challenges. These issues include forced early marriage, lack of opportunities, unwanted pregnancy, early child bearing, and the spread of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmissible infections (STIs), and female genital mutilation.
For all young people the need for accurate information, non-judgmental counseling and affordable and accessible services are paramount n over coming these challenges and helping them to avoid unwanted pregnancies, care for their sexual health and take advantage of education and other opportunities.
Let us focus on adolescents and emphasizes those issues that are vital to their physical and emotional well-being. Sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) in adolescent programmes is a new one in the social and cultural context of Indian society. However, ASRH is an issue that, if left unaddressed, could have serious adverse effects on the health of the young population. ASRH issues can be integrated into the school curriculum and imparted to out-of-school youth using a Life Skills Education (LSE) approach. LSE is a mechanism to equip adolescents with the knowledge and expertise to be confident and self-reliant in a social, personal, and professional setting.
With the aim of taking ASRH issues all the way to the grass roots, training sessions to be held for those who would be conducting workshops and learning sessions on ASRH in the districts. This training was geared towards addressing the concerns of the participants in effectively addressing ASRH issues. It also aimed at improving the understanding and ability of the participants to speak about and conduct interactive activities in the context of ASRH using the LSE approach.