Helping parents in developing countries improve adolescents' health
Helping parents in developing countries improve adolescents' health
Helping parents in developing countries improve adolescents' health
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Nepal, <strong>parents</strong> have been targeted for <strong>in</strong>tervention based on the observation that Nepali<br />
youth are embedded <strong>in</strong> a culture with a strong age-based hierarchy, and that adult approval<br />
and behaviour change are essential for achiev<strong>in</strong>g youth participation and behaviour change<br />
around reproductive <strong>health</strong> issues.<br />
The majority of the activities <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> the review of develop<strong>in</strong>g country projects assist<strong>in</strong>g<br />
<strong>parents</strong> of adolescents 5 are adolescent-focused rather than parent-focused <strong>in</strong> nature.<br />
Regardless of focus, they tend to <strong>in</strong>corporate the concept of parent roles <strong>in</strong>directly, but<br />
they lack knowledge of the relationship between particular parent<strong>in</strong>g roles and adolescent<br />
outcomes. Almost all projects implicitly acknowledge the importance of provision and<br />
protection, most (26 of 34) address issues of connection, about one quarter (8 of 34)<br />
<strong>in</strong>clude skills for behaviour control, a few (3) specifically identify the <strong>in</strong>fluence of modell<strong>in</strong>g<br />
of appropriate behaviour, and another 3 projects explicitly consider the foster<strong>in</strong>g of respect<br />
for <strong>in</strong>dividuality <strong>in</strong> their activities.<br />
Whether parent- or adolescent-focused, the overall objective of most projects is the<br />
reduction of one particular adolescent <strong>health</strong> risk. The problem areas most commonly<br />
addressed are:<br />
• Sexual and reproductive <strong>health</strong>, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g HIV: The largest number of projects aims to<br />
reduce the risks associated with early onset of sexual activity and/or unprotected sex.<br />
Of the 34 projects identified, 28 <strong>in</strong>cluded this as one of their areas of focus. For<br />
example, the parent<strong>in</strong>g component of the Youth Intervention Programme <strong>in</strong> rural<br />
Nyanza Prov<strong>in</strong>ce of Kenya was developed with the objective of delay<strong>in</strong>g sexual debut<br />
and sexual risk behaviours of pre-teens and teens <strong>in</strong> the region, especially to prevent<br />
HIV transmission.<br />
• Substance use: Several programmes take as their primary objective the reduction of<br />
alcohol and substance use among adolescents. Of the 34 projects, 13 named<br />
substance use as one of their areas of focus. For example, Mentor Colombia provides<br />
programm<strong>in</strong>g for <strong>parents</strong> as part of a multi-level <strong>in</strong>tervention to prevent the misuse of<br />
legal and illegal substances and to promote young people’s <strong>health</strong> and well-be<strong>in</strong>g.<br />
Society for the Care of Adolescents (SCAN) Parents Meet<strong>in</strong>g (India)<br />
22 <strong>Help<strong>in</strong>g</strong> <strong>parents</strong> <strong>in</strong> develop<strong>in</strong>g <strong>countries</strong> <strong>improve</strong> adolescents’ <strong>health</strong>
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