Please note: This archive was last updated in 2005.
RHO archives : Topics : Adolescent Reproductive Health
Annotated Bibliography
This is page 2 of the Adolescent Reproductive Health Annotated Bibliography. This page contains:
To access more bibliographic entries, visit page 1, page 3, or page 4, or return to the complete list of topics covered in the Adolescent Reproductive Health Annotated Bibliography. Be sure to use the Glossary if you are unfamiliar with any of the terms on this page.
Please note that PDF files require Adobe Acrobat Reader software, which can be downloaded for free at www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.
Youth-friendly clinic services
Armstrong, B. et al. Involving men in reproductive
health: the Young Men's Clinic. American Journal of Public Health
89(6):902–905 (June 1999).
This article presents and discusses a model for delivering reproductive
health services to young men. Located in a predominantly Dominican population
in northern New York City, the Young Men's Clinic works to inform male clients
that their reproductive health needs are important. The program also emphasizes
that men are vital in efforts to promote the reproductive health of both
women and men. The report discusses reasons why young men wait before seeking
reproductive health services, and presents data gathered from routine clinic
visit forms. The report concludes that the clinic's experiences suggest
that complementing existing family planning services with services designed
specifically for men is feasible and highly acceptable to young men. The
authors recommend that their program should serve as a model for health
care delivery to adolescents and young adult males.
Ginsburg, K. et al. Adolescents' perceptions
of factors affecting their decision to seek health care. Journal
of the American Medical Association 273(24):1913–1918 (June 28,
1995).
The objective of this study was to receive input from adolescents about
characteristics of health care providers and sites that affect their decision
to seek health care. Acknowledging that adolescents' decisions to seek health
care services, especially preventative services, might be heavily influenced
by subjective issues, the study asked school students in Philadelphia to
describe the effect of 31 factors on their decision to seek care. The characteristics
identified as most likely to influence their decisions were provider hand
washing, clean instruments, honesty, respect toward adolescents, cleanliness,
know-how, carefulness, experience, equal treatment of all patients, and
confidentiality. The study showed little variation in order of items by
sex, race, or socioeconomic status. These results indicate that adolescents
are more concerned about provider characteristics than specific site, service,
or outreach characteristics. The study results offer providers straightforward,
modifiable factors that can influence adolescents' decision to seek care.
Senderowitz J et al. Clinic Assessment of Youth-Friendly Services: A Tool for Improving Reproductive Health Services for Youth. Watertown, MA: Pathfinder; 2003. This tool will help program managers and clinicians determine the extent to which their current reproductive health services are youth-friendly. Results from the tool can be used to tailor services to better meet the needs and preferences of young people. Under the African Youth Alliance (AYA) Project, Pathfinder conducted baseline assessments in Botswana, Tanzania, Uganda, and Ghana using this tool.
Senderowitz, J. Making reproductive health services youth friendly. FOCUS on Young Adults. Research, Program and Policy Series (February 1999). Available at: http://pf.convio.com/pf/pubs/focus/IN%20FOCUS/MakingYouthfriendly.html. This paper discusses the premise that whether services are offered in a clinic or youth center, through outreach, at a workplace or informal venues, certain youth-friendly characteristics are essential to effective adolescent reproductive health care services and programs. The paper addresses adolescents' need for specialized services, the types of services needed by adolescents, how services can be delivered to them, why they avoid existing services, and components of youth-friendly services. Provider, health facility, and program characteristics are outlined. Finally, specific country program efforts to institute youth-friendly services are presented, offering real-life examples of a broad spectrum of youth-friendly programs.
Webb, S. ed. Insights from adolescent project experience,
1992–1997. Watertown, Massachusetts: Pathfinder International
(1998).
This report presents a review of reproductive health programs for young
adults supported by Pathfinder International between 1992 and 1997. It presents
a broad range of programs, and explains how they were undertaken, how they
evolved, what their effects have been, and what has been learned from them.
Output data are presented along with qualitative and descriptive impact
information gathered from project reports. Several evaluations of adolescent
programs located in Kenya and Bangladesh are presented.
Providing information and services
Israel, R. and Nagano, R. Promoting
reproductive health for young adults through social marketing and mass media:
a review of trends and practices. FOCUS on Young Adults Research
Series (July 1997). Available at: http://pf.convio.com/pf/pubs/focus/RPPS-Papers/Social%20Marketing.html.
During the past decade, modern marketing and mass communication techniques
have been used with increasing success to promote the reproductive health
of young adults in different countries. This paper reviews these social
marketing approaches to strengthen reproductive health practices. It summarizes
the analytical literature and lessons learned from relevant projects; describes
key elements of successful project design, implementation, and evaluation;
and identifies critical research questions that need to be addressed to
enhance the effectiveness of future interventions.
Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication
Programs (JHU/CCP). Reaching
Young People Worldwide: Lessons Learned from Communication Projects (1986–1996).
(September 1995). Available at: www.jhuccp.org/pubs/wp/2/2.pdf.
For more than a decade, the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) has provided major support to the Johns Hopkins/Population Communication
Services, a component of the Center for Communication Programs (JHU/CCP),
to support more than 30 communication programs around the world that help
young people protect their health. This 50-page publication reviews these
projects and presents the lessons that JHU/CCP has learned. Lessons apply
to designing programs, gaining support for programs, and evaluating program
efforts. Chapters present lessons learned; an overview of projects from
Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Near East, and the Newly Independent States;
and additional activities that benefit youth, such as worldwide communication
and advocacy. An extensive set of references also is included for further
research.
Piotrow, P. et al. Health Communication:
Lessons from Family Planning and Reproductive Health. Westport,
Connecticut: Praeger Publishers (1997).
This book presents lessons learned from 15 years of experience developing
family planning communications. During this time, the Population Communication
Services (PCS), a program of the Center for Communication Programs at Johns
Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, has been involved with national
family planning programs in 50 developing countries. This book presents
many examples of reproductive health communication programs aimed at adolescents,
including the Enter-Educate approach used in Latin America, the Philippines,
and Nigeria to deliver sexual behavior messages such as "Wait until
you are ready for sexual relations, marriage, or pregnancy." The "Nine
Ps" of Enter-Educate (pervasive, popular, personal, participatory,
passionate, persuasive, practical, profitable, and proven effective) are
described and documented.
Senderowitz, J. Reproductive
health outreach programs for young adults. FOCUS on Young Adults
Research Series (May 1997). Available at: http://pf.convio.com/pf/pubs/focus/RPPS-Papers/outreach.pdf.
The delivery of reproductive health information, counseling, and services
to young adults is a new and emerging area. Reaching out to young people
presents many challenges, especially when they are reluctant to use services,
are unaware of available services, or are not part of mainstream youth life
or activities. This paper presents a comprehensive review of efforts to
reach youth made by youth centers, peer-promotion programs, outreach programs,
and reproductive health projects developed by youth-oriented organizations.
The discussion of the lessons learned addresses strategic considerations;
target-audience identification; needs assessments; youth, parental, and
community involvement; evaluation; training; and use of peer promoters.
The discussion of key program elements includes a wide range of topics,
including program design and development, peer programs implementation,
and key characteristics of successful peer programs. The publication also
includes an extensive reference list and critical research questions.
Contraception for adolescents
Blumenthal, P.D. and McIntosh, N. Pocket
Guide for Family Planning Service Providers. Baltimore, Maryland:
JHPIEGO (1995).
This guide for family planning service providers is designed to provide
clinicians with practical, clinically oriented information for use in family
planning services. It includes a brief chapter on adolescents that addresses
factors relevant to the use of specific contraceptive methods in this population,
including their tendency to have unplanned, unprotected intercourse and
the resulting need for access to emergency contraception. The guide provides
information on serving clients with special needs (such as women who may
need emergency contraception) and clients who need information about specific
contraceptive methods. Information on the mechanism of action, benefits,
limitations, and precautions for use is provided for each contraceptive
method along with instructions for management of common side effects and
related problems. Information on counseling, assessing clients, and providing
educational materials also is provided, as are chapters on infection prevention
and genital tract infections.
Brooks, T.L. and Shrier, L.A. An update on contraception
for adolescents. Adolescent Medicine 19(2):211–219 (1999).
After presenting an overview of pregnancy, birth, and abortion rates among
adolescents, this article discusses the efficacy and appropriateness of
various types of hormonal and barrier contraceptives used by adolescents
including oral contraceptive pills, emergency contraception, injectables,
condoms, and IUDs. A table used to illustrate these methods provides the
expected and typical failure rates during the first year of use. The authors
emphasize the importance of considering and discussing contraception with
both male and female adolescents before the onset of sexual activity. They
also discuss the importance of assuring confidentiality, making services
adolescent-friendly, and taking individuals' preferences and concerns into
account before prescribing any method of contraception.
FOCUS on Young Adults.
Adolescent reproductive Q's & A's. Available online at www.pathfind.org/Guides&Tools/QA_final_8-4.PDF.
This online list of questions and corresponding answers provides information
requested by individuals concerned with adolescent reproductive health including
youth, adults working with young people, and representatives of international
organizations. The questions cover a range of young adult reproductive health
issues and interests including counseling, contraception, growth and development,
and sexual behavior and decision making. This material is designed for health
and population professionals working with youth 10 to 20 years old.
PATH. Improving
contraceptive access: WHO reviews eligibility criteria for contraceptive
use. Outlook. 1995;13(4):1–8.
WHO
Eligibility criteria for contraceptive use: combined injectables and sterilization.
Outlook. 1996;14(1):1–8.
This two-part series summarizes the World Health Organization's (WHO) revised
medical eligibility criteria for initiating use of contraceptive methods.
It is particularly helpful in providing age guidelines for use of the various
contraceptive methods.
Stewart, K.J. and Guilkey, D.K. Factors predicting
contraceptive use among adolescents in Zimbabwe. [Unpublished.] (April
1995).
This study presents the results of a cross-sectional analysis of data collected
on 963 nonpregnant women age 15 to 19 years living in Zimbabwe to determine
factors of contraceptive use. Results indicate that the presence of a community-based
distribution worker was the most significant community variable predicting
contraceptive use. Presence of a community-based distribution worker increased
the probability of contraceptive use when adolescents had limited or no
education. The study's findings suggest that community-based distribution
programs may be a good way to reach adolescents, usually a population with
poor access to family planning information and services.
Sucato G, Gold M. New Options in Contraception for
Adolescents. Current Women’s Health Reports. 2001;1:116–123.
Several recent advances in the contraceptive methods available to adolescents
are reviewed. Some of these contraceptives may be more adolescent-friendly
and may improve compliance.
Some of the new contraceptives reviewed are the monthly injectables, very
low dose pills, continuous cycling of oral contraceptives, and emergency
contraceptives.
World Health Organization (WHO). Emergency
Contraception: A Guide for Service Delivery. WHO/FRH/FPP/98.19.
Geneva: WHO (1998).
This guide presents a comprehensive overview of the history and role of
emergency contraception in family planning services. It provides detailed
information about the use of emergency contraceptive pills and copper-releasing
IUDs, including their modes of action, efficacy, side effects, and eligibility
criteria, as well as counseling and patient follow-up issues. Throughout
the publication, the need to prevent unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion,
particularly during adolescence, by increasing access to emergency contraception
is emphasized. The booklet also provides guidelines for involving both clinicians
and the community in introducing emergency contraception in reproductive
health programs, and for providing appropriate information to clients. Common
misconceptions—such as the potential of emergency contraception to
cause abortion, promote irresponsible behavior, or lead to a decrease in
condom use—are addressed in detail.
WHO. Improving Access to Quality
Care in Family Planning: Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive
Use. Geneva: WHO (1996).
This document summarizes the main recommendations of two scientific working-group
meetings held at WHO in March 1994 and May 1995 on the medical eligibility
criteria for use of various contraceptives. It includes numerous tables
clarifying how age, various health conditions, and behaviors should be considered
when providing contraceptives. These meetings concluded that adolescents
are a special population at risk of unwanted pregnancy, unsafe abortion,
and, in some settings, STIs. In general, adolescents are healthy and eligible
to use any method of contraception. Program barriers that limit adolescents'
access to and use of safe and effective contraception need to be addressed.
This document is designed for use by policy makers, family planning program
managers, and the scientific community in the preparation of guidelines
for service delivery of contraceptives.
