Radio listening clubs to promote youth involvement in SRH ...



Using radio shows, and radio listening clubs to promote sexual and reproductive health (SRH) dialogue among out of school adolescents

Background of the Ugandan adolescent

Adolescence is a high-risk phase of life in Uganda. Adolescents are vulnerable to poor sexual and reproductive health lives.

Although the mean age for first sex has risen from 15 to 17 years for girls, and from 16 to 18 years for boys between DHS surveys of 1995 and 2000, Ugandan adolescents start sex early. According to the Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS,2000/2001), 52% of 15-19 year old girls and 38.7% of 15-19 year old boys had ever had sex.

Ugandan women start childbearing early. According to the UDHS (2000/2001), 31 % of women 15-19 years old were mothers or were pregnant. Uganda ranks among the countries with the highest rates of teenage pregnancies in Africa.

Young people in Uganda are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection because most practice serial monogamy and do not use condoms. Among 15-19 year-olds who are sexually active, an estimated 4% of girls and 2% of boys are HIV positive. It is also estimated that 13.3% of girls and 2.7% of boys between 15 and 19 years old have STDs other than AIDS. Often these diseases go untreated, either out of ignorance or because of the shame associated with them.

Girls are less likely than boys to complete primary school, attend secondary school, or go to higher institutions of learning. For this reason, girls are more likely to be illiterate, have less power in sexual relationships (unable to insist on condom use or say no to sexual demands), and are forced into early marriage.

Statement of the problem

Out of school adolescents in Uganda are a most especially vulnerable group. Unlike their in-school counterparts, they are isolated and hard to reach. They lack group associations and meet only occasionally at markets, wells or in the fields while carrying out chores.

Out-of school youth have low literacy rates and cannot benefit from sex education materials produced for the general adolescent population. Moreover, most of these materials are not in their local languages. This group of young people rarely has access to correct sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information. In addition, the environment they live in forces them, unlike the in-school adolescents, to take on adult responsibilities at an early stage of life, for example, by early or forced marriage, and in earning incomes for their families.

Even when they fall sick with any disease, out-of-school adolescents rarely seek medical care, either because it is unaffordable or because it is inaccessible. The little money they may have is spent on purchasing inadequate doses or ineffective drugs.

Project background

Radio is the most penetrative medium of communication in Uganda. According to the Uganda Household Survey (2000), almost 90% of households have radios. Due to privatization of radio communications, every district in Uganda has at least one FM radio station, broadcasting in English and the area-specific local language.

Straight Talk Foundation (STF) is an adolescent health communications NGO that produces weekly 30-minute enter-educate radio shows for and with adolescents in English and five local languages.

STF research has found out that while in-school adolescents benefit from school-based radio listening clubs, out-of-school adolescents lack such a forum for exchange of information. Youth from one village center (Kaberamaido) had already stressed a need for village-based listening clubs.

This project aims to one provide such a forum for out-of-school youth.

This project would benefit from existing radio shows produced by STF and would therefore give the organization an innovative way to reach the out-of-school youth. If successful, STF can expand this approach to other areas where out-of-school adolescents are underserved with ASRH information.

Goal and objectives

This project therefore aims, through interactive and educative radio programs, to provide an opportunity for out-of-school adolescents to receive and generate SRH information, and through community-based radio listening clubs, to promote dialogue and exchange of SRH information among youth, and to promote the link between information and health services.

STF will use this project as a pilot to study the suitability and replicability of village-based radio listening programs.

Before the project start, baseline data will be collected to find out how many youth in the selected community have access to the radio programs.

It is aimed that by the end of the project, to increase by at least 30% the proportion of out-of-school youth in the radio listening clubs, in the selected community who:

• Have access (listen regularly) to the radio programs

• Acknowledge that they discuss SRH issues with their peers

• Feel comfortable discussing SRH issues with peers

• Are able to socially seek treatment on any sexually related diseases from the identified health center

• Are able to counsel and guide peers on SRH issues

• Relate knowledge gained on defined aspects of SRH to the radio shows and club dialogues

• Report/define/name at least one aspect of healthy sexual behavior that they find practical

Methodology

Choosing the community and clubs: A community, which already receives existing radio shows produced by STF, will be chosen. Two (2) new clubs will be established in the community. The nature of the clubs will be decided by the out-of-school youth themselves.

District Youth health profile: The district director of health services, together with other district health officials (district health officer, district population officer, district health educator) in the chosen community will be asked to prepare a reproductive health status report of the youth in the district and present this information to leaders at a sensitization workshop. This information will be used to advocate to leaders about the need for adolescent reproductive health interventions; the radio listening clubs.

Sensitization workshop: A sensitization workshop will be held with community officials, leaders, and parents. This meeting will inform the participants about the reproductive health situation of youth in the district, about the radio programs, and about the intended project.

Youth consultative meetings: At least two consultative meetings with at least 50 youth will be held before the project starts. Through locally-based NGOs and CBOs, youth will be mobilized to meet and discuss issues they would want included in the radio shows and how the radio shows can best be useful for them. Further meetings will be held to discuss club formation, nature of clubs, club size, listening location, suitable radio listening hours, nature of programs (live or recorded), health centers that are accessible to them. The youth will also appoint club leaders and define their responsibilities.

Training: An initial core group of youth and health workers from the selected health centers will be trained for one week on SRH and identified priority sexual health problems in the community. Youth will receive training on communication skills, club management and record keeping. Clubs will also choose a community patron.

The health workers will be trained on the provision of adolescent friendly services using available training programs by other bodies such as UNFPA and the Ministry of Health.

The health workers will provide community youth with a link to health services at the clinics they work in, and will participate at least once a month in club activities.

Each club will be provided with a radio set. Recording equipment will also be provided to the clubs so that youth can interview and record each others messages.

Monitoring and Evaluation: Every new club member will fill out a pre-intervention questionnaire. The club leaders will monitor attendance, keep record of issues discussed. The health centre staff will keep a record of youth who use their health services, and will be required to note if the youth is a radio club member or is referred to the health center by a club member. The STF monitoring officer will work hand in hand with

Every three months, activity reports shall be compiled. At the end of the project, the project will be evaluated by SYF as part the organization’s ongoing activities. The cost for this activity will be drawn from the main STF budget

Club leaders will have reports about the following: attendance, number of members, frequency of radio listening, number of visits to club by health worker,

Health workers will keep records of visits by club youth to health center.

Program format

The new community-based listening clubs can choose to listen to the shows live on air or receive recorded programs on tape. After each listening session, the group will hold a dialogue to discuss issues that have been aired on the show. At least once a month, a health provider will be invited to moderate the club dialogue. Once a month, health quizzes will be aired on the program and winners awarded presents by STF.

Club activities will be coordinated by the chosen and trained leaders.

Within two months, youth will be taught to use recording equipment and be given opportunities to record raw material for radio programs themselves, on topics suggested by them.

Inputs

• Radio sets and recording equipment, tapes

• Trainers, health visitor, training materials

• Fees for health visitor

• Prizes for listeners

• Radio show production and distribution costs

• Radio producers’ time

Output 1: At least 15 community leaders and parents sensitized on adolescence issues and the radio program, in a one-day workshop

Activities

• Identify trainers

• Carry out sensitization

Output 2: Ten club leaders (five from each club) will be trained on adolescent health issues and aspects of club management

Activities

• Adapt existing training curriculum from other organizations

• Carry out training

Output 3: Two health workers trained on provision of services friendly to youth.

Activities

• Identify health workers

• Carry out training

Output 4: Twelve thirty- minute weekly radio shows produced and broadcast on at least one FM station that is listened to by youth in the community.

Activities:

• Radio show themes and messages developed and designed

• Scripts written

• Youth interviewed (interview themselves)

• Radio shows edited, produced, distributed, and broadcast

Output 5: Motivational materials (prizes) procured

• Order and purchase materials (T-shirts, etc.)

Outcomes

• Increased knowledge of SRH issues among club youth, due to increased dialogue

• Increased use of SRH services by youth within the selected health centers

• An out-of-school adolescent community that has improved sexual and reproductive lives. This will be verified by data from the District Director of health services.

Impact

By the end of the project, the expected impact is that youth in the radio listening clubs, and their peers will be empowered to realize and maintain healthy sexual and reproductive lives by taking informed decisions and actions, and health workers will be able to address adolescent sexuality issues.

Evaluation and indicators of success

Evaluation:

At the end of the project, an STF officer will work with club members and health workers to evaluate the project. Questionnaires will be administered to club youth, parents, health workers and district officials to see the impact of the project. Focus group discussion will be held with the aim of getting information about the youth’ ideas and perceptions of the radio shows, and their impact.

Indicators of success

• Radio shows aired and listened to by youth, based on STF reports

• Number of listening clubs in place and meeting weekly to listen to radio shows.

• Number of youth belonging to a club and regularly listening to shows and participating in dialogues with other members ( talking with others, seeking health care, asking for counseling or advice about sexuality issues) in listening clubs

• Number of radio shows (out of 12 in a year) produced by youth

• Proportion of youth who report seeking SRH advice/counseling from peers and/or health professional at end of project (after one year) as compared to before project start

• Proportion of youth in clubs who can relate knowledge gained on defined aspects of SRH to radio show and dialogues

• Proportion of youth in listening clubs who can name an aspect of healthy sexual behavior that they find practical

Leadership skills required

This project requires good communication, planning and organizational skills, and an understanding of the local community context.

It will also require a good amount of flexibility, and the willingness to nurture alliances with the local leaders within the community.

Budget

See appendix

Logframe

See appendix

Log frame: Using radio shows and listening clubs to promote sexual and reproductive health (SRH) dialogue among out of school adolescents: July 2004- June 2005

|Hiearchy of objectives |Objectively verifiable indicators |Means of verification |Assumptions |

|Goal: To contribute to improved sexual and reproductive health|Adolescent STD/HIV infection rates |District adolescent health data( from|Government commitment to support |

|status of out-of-school adolescents (15-19 years) in Uganda |Teenage pregnancy rates |district director of health services)|SRH is continued |

|Purpose: To empower adolescents to realize and maintain |Percentage of adolescents knowledgeable about healthy |District health reports |Support for SRH from all |

|healthy sexual and reproductive lives by taking informed |sexual practices increased. | |stakeholders |

|decisions and actions | | | |

|Output1: Sexual and reproduction health information and |Number of radio shows produced and broadcast |Production and distribution records |Adolescents have access to radio |

|education provided through radio shows |Radio show topic content | |programs |

| | |Radio tapes archives | |

|Output 2: Supportive environment for SRH dialogue promoted |Number of club leaders and health professional trained in |Club records |Community leaders and parents |

|through radio listening clubs |SRH and club management | |support club activities |

| |Number of adolescent participating in production of radio |Monitoring report | |

| |shows | | |

| |Proportion of community youth participating in radio clubs| | |

| |increased by 30% | |Complementary adolescent friendly |

| |Radio listener-ship increased by 30% at end of project | |services including access to |

| |Proportion of club members (30%) who report seeking sexual| |condoms and health services is |

| |and reproductive health advice/counseling from peers |Health center reports |enhanced and used by the |

| |or/and health workers | |adolescents |

| |Proportion of club members (30%) who can relate knowledge | | |

| |gained on aspects of SRH to radio show and dialogues | | |

| |Proportion of youth (30%) in listening clubs who can name | | |

| |at least one aspect of healthy sexual behavior that they | | |

| |find practical | | |

|Radio listening clubs budget July 2004- June 2005 | | | | | | | | | |

| | | | | | | | | | |

Item |Unit cost $ |Units |Total cost $ | | | | | | | | | | | | |1. Community leaders sensitization (1 days,15 pple) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Meals |5 |15 |75 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Facilitators:2 facilitators |40 |2 |80 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Sub total |  |  |155 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |2. Club leaders/hw training (5 days, 12pple) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Venue |10 |5 |50 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Meals +accommodation |10 |60 |600 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Facilitator (2pple) |40 |10 |400 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Training materials |5 |12 |60 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Sub total 2 |  |  | 1,110 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |3. Radio shows | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Production |50 |12 |600 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Distribution |5 |12 |60 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Sub total 3 |  |  |660 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |4. Supplies and equipment | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Recorder (1 unit) |200 |1 |200 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Radio sets |50 |2 |100 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Tapes |5 |12 |60 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Prizes (T-shirts, etc.) |50 |12 |600 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Sub total 4 |  |  |960 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |5. Operational costs | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Mobilization |5 |24 |120 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Transport(supervision visits by STF officer) |10 |12 |120 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Health worker visits(incentive pay) |5 |12 |60 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Monitoring and evaluation( contribution to diem costs) |10 |12 |120 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Sub total 5 |  |  |300 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |6. Personnel | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Radio producer 20% time (STF staff) |  |  |  | | | | | | | | | | | | |20% of time |100 |12 |1200 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Sub total 6 |  |  |1200 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Total 1-6 |  |  | 4,385 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Contigency 5% of total |  |  | 219.25 | | | | | | | | | | | | |Grand total |  |  | 4,604 | | | | | | | | | | | | |

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download