Enthusiastic Embrace and Takeoff of Adolescent Health and Rights Project

In January 2013, World Renew, in partnership with Beacon of Hope Initiative started implementing a four-year Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) funded project titled, “Protecting Adolescent Health and Rights.”

The project seeks to engage participants in actions that address threats to adolescent health, including HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and early/pre-marital pregnancy. In-school and out-of-school adolescents, as well as parents and community and religious leaders, are targeted in 40 communities in Nigeria from Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Plateau, and Taraba States.

Nigeria has a generalized HIV epidemic in which youth, and young women in particular, are very susceptible to infection. According to estimates in the 2010 UNAIDS report, 3.3 million people in Nigeria are living with HIV and AIDS. Young women aged 15 to 24 years have an HIV prevalence rate of 2.9%, while young men in the same age range have a prevalence rate of 1.2%. The report further indicates that 20% of young women aged 15 to 24 years report having sex before age 15, compared to 8% of young men.

And only 24% of young women in that age group reported using a condom last time they had sex with a casual partner, compared to 46% of men. The median age of the population in Nigeria is 17, and the 15 to 24 age group constitutes 20% of the population. In a situation like this, the “Protecting Adolescent Health and Rights” project is both strategic and timely.

Like in many other places around the world, adolescent girls in Nigeria are especially at risk of sexually-transmitted disease and infection. In many rural areas in Nigeria, girl-child education is still low compared to their male counterparts.

Women in Nigeria are more likely to be poor than men are because they have fewer economic opportunities. There are still cases today of young ladies being forced into marriage without their consent in some parts of Nigeria, especially among the low-income families. Some are forced to marry because of inability to pay school fees. Cases of rape and abuse among girls are common and often not handled well or reported at all due to shame, fear, or oppression. There are instances of some rich people and others in positions of authority or inﬂuence pressuring females for sex in exchange for money or other favors like grades, employment, business opportunities, etc.

A baseline survey was conducted in all of the forty target communities in the ﬁve states where World Renew is working. A total of 346 randomly selected in-school and out-of-school adolescent youth were interviewed out of 3,464 total youth (2,425 females and 1,039 males) who were enrolled in the ﬁrst of two groups. In addition, 346 parents or guardians (200 males and 146 females) were also interviewed. In-school and out-of-school adolescent youth in the ﬁrst group are actively engaged in a total of 310 peer groups. Group learning sessions are being facilitated by trained peer educators.

Baseline Survey Findings and Work Progress Sexual Practices among Adolescents
Of the 346 unmarried adolescent youth interviewed, 94.2% males and 78.5% females reported not having sexual intercourse in the last six months. This result is an indirect conﬁrmation that females are more vulnerable to unwanted sexual pressures than their male counterparts. This project is building the capacity of enrolled adolescents to practice primary or secondary abstinence.

Of the sexually active adolescents interviewed, 33.3% males and 32.8% females acknowledged use of condom as a way of avoiding HIV transmission. This follows that a fairly high number of youth are engaged in sexual practices capable of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. This project is building the capacity of enrolled participants to further reduce number of unmarried sexually active youth as well as unhealthy behaviors/practices capable of promoting HIV spread and other sexually transmitted infections.

Safety and Security
Adolescent youth surveyed who have had sex for money or other form of exchange in the past year showed 16.7% for males and 11.9% for females. Transactional sex is a reality among the youth in Nigeria and this project is addressing the need through education. Parents groups will also be empowered to advocate against this development.

Adolescent youth who reported they experienced sexual coercion (i.e. involuntary or unwanted sexual intercourse or rape) in the past year shows 11.5% males and 14.5% females. Enrolled adolescents are being empowered to avoid sexual coercion. Plans have been made to get parents and inﬂuential adults involved in further addressing the situation.

Adolescents who think it is justiﬁed for a man/boy to hit his girlfriend, wife, or partner showed 14.4% for males and 9.9% females. This is sad but a true reﬂection of male dominance. This unjust practice is being addressed by the project through peer education.

Income Earning Activities
Percentage of youth who are engaged in an income earning activity indicates 21% males and 16% females. This is a sign of gender imbalance and clearly shows that majority of the youth above 18 years of age who are not in school are dependent on some form of employment other than self-employment. This project will build the capacity of female and male unemployed youth with skills and determination to get involved in self-help economic ventures.

Reproductive Health Knowledge Including HIV & STI
Only 49% males and 55.7% females of interviewed adolescents could identify two or more potential health risks to a young pregnant girl and her child. It is surprising that many adolescent males and females were ignorant of the health risks to an immature pregnant girl and her child. Protecting Adolescent Health and Rights project is building the capacity of beneﬁciaries to realise the health risks to a young pregnant girl and her child and to avoid such situations.

It is an encouraging discovery from the baseline survey that 91.3% male and 88% female adolescents out of those interviewed could correctly name two or more ways that a person can become infected with HIV. Those who don’t know the modes of HIV transmission are at higher risk. This project is building on what the youth are already aware of and empowering them to reach out to others who are still unaware.

Ability to Talk Openly
Adolescents who have talked with their father or mother about issues of physical development, sexuality, and/or reproductive health issues in the past year shows 39.9% males and 41.1% females. This conﬁrms that there is a big gap in communication between adolescents and their parents. The project is empowering beneﬁciaries to address this gap.

Fifty-one percent male and 67% female parents/guardians interviewed said they talked with their adolescent children about physical development, family planning, STIs, and sexual relations. This shows the importance of empowering both adolescents and parents/guardians in target communities to improve eIective communication.

Family Relationship and Gender Aspect
A little over half of parents surveyed (52%) did not know enough information about physical development, family planning, STI, and sexual relations to discuss these topics with their children. Parents also need more information to be able to help their adolescents. Some do not know where to start or when it is appropriate to discuss these issues with their children. Plans are underway to empower parents/guardians to engage their wards in healthy discussions.

About 24% of parents don’t know where an adolescent girl can go to
receive reproductive health information/service.

This shows that a number of adolescents cannot be directed for help in terms of reproductive help. No wonder many end up getting advice from people who do not mean well, which often gets many young people into more problems. This need is being addressed through teaching, and beneﬁciaries are being shown where to go when in need.

Summary
Since the start of the project, World Renew and its partner have made progress in facilitating learning among adolescents about healthy behaviors aimed at reducing threats from HIV and AIDS, STIs, and early or unwanted pregnancies. So far, 3,464 adolescents (1,039 males and 2,425 females) have been meeting regularly in 310 adolescent health groups to go through a curriculum under the facilitation of trained peer educators. Participants are acquiring knowledge about reproductive health and their own physical development, HIV and AIDS (its transmission, common myths), and STIs (common myths and consequences of non-treatment).

The project is also tackling prevention of early and forced marriage and early and pre-marital pregnancy. Participants are also learning the communication skills they need to discuss sensitive topics with family members and to respond appropriately to harassment and unwanted sexual advances.

Adolescents, parents/guardians, and religious and community leaders have embraced this project with enthusiasm and work is progressing accordingly.

Pray for Nigeria:

Praise God for the enthusiasm stakeholders have demonstrated towards the “Protecting Adolescent Health and Rights” project in all ﬁve states.
Thank God for sustained peace in the ﬁve states where the adolescent health and rights project is operating.
Thank God for the relative peace in northern Nigeria and pray for the improved security situation nationwide.

Blessings,