reproductive health services for adolescents - Pathfinder International

Module 16/Unit 6
Specific Objective #1: Discuss safer sex messages and techniques
for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and
unwanted pregnancy
CONTENT
Knowledge/Attitudes/Skills
INTRODUCTION
Protection against infection and
pregnancy involve many of the same
strategies and services.
Training/Learning Methods
(Time Required)
TRAINER PRESENTATION (5 MIN.)
The trainer should present the
introduction from the content section on
the left-hand side of the page.
Traditionally, young women have come
to the clinic for prenatal care or
contraception, thus presenting an
opportunity to also prevent and treat
STIs. Young men can also be involved in
both contraception and STI prevention if
their need for information and treatment
is addressed.
• According to WHO, about one half of
all of the people infected with HIV are
under the age of 25.
• About half of all new HIV infections
are among 15-24 year olds.
• An estimated 1 in 20 youths contract
STIs each year, and one-third of all
STIs occur among 13-20 year-olds
(110 million STIs/year).
• In many African countries, up to 20%
of all births are to women ages 15-19,
and 40-70% of women have become
pregnant or mothers by the end of
their teens.
• In many Latin American countries,
35% of women hospitalized for septic
abortion are under age 20.
• In many countries, maternal deaths
are 2-3 times greater in women ages
15-19 than in women ages 20-24.
Pathfinder International
79
Adolescent Curriculum