Youth Research Working Papers are in-depth descriptions of research projects undertaken by FHI/YouthNet. They include an introduction, methodology, results, discussion, recommendations, tables, and figures. These papers are part of the overall YouthNet research effort.
Youth Research Working Paper No. 9. Impact of Youth Peer Education Programs: Final Results from an FHI/YouthNet Study in Zambia (PDF, 814 KB). This study sought to determine the effect of youth peer education (YPE) programs on sexual and reproductive health behaviors among youth. Phase 1 (in Zambia and the Dominican Republic, summarized in Youth Research Working Paper No. 3) identified core elements believed to be important for effective and sustainable YPE programs. Phase 2, conducted only in Zambia, assessed the interrelationships among program inputs, outputs, exposure and outcomes. Instruments developed in Phase 1 were used to measure inputs and outputs in five YPE programs in Zambia. Data gathered were linked with exposure to YPE programs and outcomes of these programs; exposure and outcomes were measured using population survey data and clinic-based data. The study found a chain of associations indicating that YPE in Zambia promotes HIV prevention behaviors. Findings indicated that appropriate referrals had been made by peer educators. And, findings indicated that the core components of YPE programming, as measured by the checklists developed in Phase 1, are equally important in terms of program quality.
Youth Research Working Paper No. 8. Early Sexual Debut, Sexual Violence, and Sexual Risk-taking among Pregnant Adolescents and Their Peers in Jamaica and Uganda (PDF, 559 KB). This study first identified contextual factors and circumstances that influence pregnancy among young adolescents (15-17 years old in Jamaica and Uganda) and then in Jamaica used a quantitative case-control study to measure the relationships between sexual debut, sexual coercion/violence, and sexual risk-taking among pregnant adolescents and their never pregnant, but sexually active peers. The study found an association between pregnancy and early sexual debut but not between pregnancy and sexual violence. Despite this lack of statistical association, the high prevalence of sexual violence among both pregnant and never pregnant girls led to recommendations for more focus on this issue.
Youth Research Working Paper No. 7. Operations Research Study to Improve Postabortion Care (PAC) Services among Adolescents in the Dominican Republic (PDF, 350 KB). This paper summarizes an operations research study to improve the PAC counseling and contraceptive uptake among adolescent PAC patients seeking services in the Dominican Republic. Before the study and intervention, few patients left with contraception; after the intervention, 40 percent of patients who wished to delay pregnancy left with a contraceptive method, with no significant differences found between the adolescents and older women in terms of contraceptive uptake.
Youth Research Working Paper No. 6. Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services for Youth and Linkages with Other Reproductive Health Services in Haiti (PDF, 369 KB). This report describes the health needs of youth seeking VCT services in several types of clinics in Haiti. The study found that clinics need to increase the availability of contraception to youth, by training providers in family planning methods. The 49-page report includes 26 tables and three figures.
Youth Research Working Paper No. 5. Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services for Youth and Linkages with Other Reproductive Health Services in Tanzania (PDF, 359 KB). This report describes the health needs of youth seeking VCT services, including contraceptive services. It also reports on the quality of care offered to youth at these clinics and the relationship between youth's intended and actual risk behaviors following VCT. The 40-page report includes 14 tables and five figures.
Youth Research Working Paper No. 4. An Assessment of Services for Adolescents in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Programs (PDF, 407 KB). This report describes the study results conducted at four antenatal care clinics with PMTCT programs in Kenya. The study identified and evaluated strategies for meeting youth's HIV and reproductive health needs within PMTCT services, based on assessments of HIV/AIDS, PMTCT, and contraceptive related knowledge, awareness, and attitudes that influenced service use. The 51-page report includes 27 tables and four figures.
Youth Research Working Paper No. 3. Formative Research on Youth Peer Education Program Productivity and Sustainability (PDF, 489 KB). This 64-page paper discusses the first phase of a two-part study, which identified core elements of programs through an examination of program dynamics, activities, costs, and outputs in two countries. Based on this data, the first phase developed frameworks and eight checklists to use in assessing youth peer education effectiveness and sustainability.
Youth Research Working Paper No. 2. Impact of Sex and HIV Education Programs on Sexual Behaviors of Youth in Developing and Developed Countries (PDF, 597 KB). This 45-page paper discusses findings from a review of 83 evaluations of sex and HIV education programs. The analysis found substantial positive impact on sexual behaviors in more than two-thirds of the evaluations and identified 17 characteristics of the most effective curricula used in the programs evaluated. More information on this review is available, including links to data sheets on each of the 83 evaluations.
Youth Research Working Paper No. 1. Iringa Youth Behavior Survey ? Findings and Report (PDF, 564 KB). This paper reports on a population-based, household survey of youth ages 13 to 24. It provides a comprehensive picture of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of youth regarding HIV and reproductive health issues. It includes 13 recommendations on protective strategies, gender norms, knowledge-behavior gap, and services. The narrative discussions of the findings include data in 36 tables and 27 figures.
