Improving Youth Friendly Sexual Reproductive Health Services through Young People in Bangladesh
Youth Incentives has recently embarked on an innovative research project that seeks to improve the quality and access to youth friendly services in Jessore, Bangladesh. The research project is financed by the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), and will be replicated in Malawi later this year.
The research looks at the mismatch between what is at stake for young people with regard to sex and sexuality, and the available services of the Family Planning Association.
The innovative aspect of this research is that it is conducted by (local) young people themselves, creating a sense of ownership and sustainability. The research also makes use of a community stakeholder panel- comprising of clinic staff members, religious leaders, community leaders, local authorities and community parents- to open up the dialogue between young people and adults, whilst collaboratively formulating recommendations for the improvement of services.
The research has already succeeded in creating a strong sense of ownership amongst the young researchers; it has also succeeded in bringing adults and young people together to discuss sexuality issues and the implications these have for service provision.
Numerous adults of the stakeholder panel expressed that it was the first time they had ever talked in a group about matters concerning sexual well-being, let alone with young people. In Bangladesh youth sexuality is completely taboo, and creating a formal, yet pleasant and interactive environment where (community) adults actually listen to young people’s concerns, fears and misconceptions; is an incredible asset to any programme seeking to improve the sexual well-being of young people.
The results of the research will be used to improve IPPF’s Explore manual; a guideline for involving young people in research. We hope that this methodology will be applied by other professionals seeking to improve the sexual well-being of young people.
