.

Access to knowledge and safe, non-judgmental, and supportive clinical and counseling services is essential, and due to existing social norms and gender biases these services are currently not accessible to married and unmarried adolescent girls. Further, because adolescent girls are an isolated and neglected population, little is known about their reproductive and sexual health (RSH) needs, status and outcomes, and the policies and guidelines around provision of RSH services to adolescents remain silent.

We are proposing the development of Well Adolescent Centers (WAC) to service the rural communities in Koppal and Raichur districts and the low-income communities of Bangalore. The WAC concept is designed as a center for adolescents to seek context and age-appropriate health information; friendly and confidential counseling; safe RSH services; a point of referral for other information and services; and an acceptable and appropriate venue for further research on their RSH needs and outcomes. We are currently consulting with adolescents, mothers and the wider community to determine what is acceptable and what is feasible given local laws concerning medical confidentiality and provision of testing and treatment. We are also currently exploring different service delivery mechanisms, including static clinics based in the community and/or mobile clinics to service multiple communities.

Objectives:

Provide reproductive and sexual health information, counseling, testing and clinical services , either through direct service delivery or through referral and follow-up ;

Establish a model center and develop best practices for providing adolescent reproductive health services, and develop a training program for health care providers in both the private and government sectors.

Establish the WAC as a venue for research on adolescent reproductive and sexual health needs, status, and outcomes.

Promote sensitive, non-judgmental, and confidential health services for adolescents; and

Create a safe and nurturing space for adolescent girls to identify and develop as their own .

<<BACK