Helping parents in developing countries improve adolescents' health

In the two project villages, girls and women choose female volunteers to take on the senga
role. The groups suggest the names of permanent residents of the villages whom they trust
and, “who would be able to effectively take up the sex counselling role.” This approach
facilitates the participation of girls and women, producing a sense of ownership, and
improved acceptability.
Sengas provide information on sexually-transmitted infections (STI); referrals and followup
with adolescents on whether they sought/completed treatment; identify/analyze the
risks adolescents take, why they take them and how to avoid them; provide condoms;
supplement knowledge about sex (to what school was offering) and offer additional
opportunities to discuss sex.
Those girls who participate in the Modern Senga intervention have higher knowledge of
HIV, report more consistent condom use and increased use of family planning services. The
percentage of girls reporting STI symptoms decreased, and the sexually-active girls report
more open attitudes with regard to discussing sexual issues. Some community members
report that males should also have male counsellors to assist with their information needs.
Sengas report that there is a greater need for attention to the roles and responsibilities of
men in order to effectively promote sexual health.
The five roles of parents share characteristics that have important implications
for programme planning
Clearly, if programmes are to be efficient and effective, the content of their parenting
interventions, including the relative emphasis on specific parenting roles, will differ
according to the intended outcome(s) on adolescents. For example, for positive social
development as a target outcome, connection should be emphasized; for prevention
of risky behaviours, behaviour control; for prevention of depression and depressive
symptoms, respect for individuality is key.
These parental roles are interconnected in that parents perform them all, simultaneously,
to one degree or another. However, given limited time, funds and parental willingness
or ability to participate in programming efforts, it is sensible to focus on the key roles
that have been identified in the research findings as they relate to specific domains of
adolescent health and development. Given that positive or negative parenting behaviours
20 Helping parents in developing countries improve adolescents’ health