Developing a standardized assessment framework to identify supporting and hindering factors in the implementation of gender-transformative programs for very young adolescents (VYAs) across various cultural settings.
Interventionists and researchers from the Global Early Adolescent Study constructed a Theory of Change (ToC) by consolidating intervention components from five distinct gender-transformative curriculum models. 'Conditions of Success' criteria, outlined within the Table of Contents, explicitly state that change is dependent on the successful execution of interventions. buy PLX3397 The 'Conditions for Success' criteria were used to assess implementation data gathered across the five Global Early Adolescent Study interventions, ultimately revealing common enablers and impediments to successful implementation.
Applying the 'Conditions for Success' benchmarks, we discovered that interventions for VYAs focused on gender transformation were most impeded by the challenges of program delivery and facilitation. Further, increasing multisectoral support is essential to disrupt ingrained gender norms. For optimal outcomes, the program necessitated the involvement of parents and caregivers, either in a distinct role or as co-designers and implementers of the interventions themselves.
Implementation of gender transformative interventions for VYAs can be analyzed using the Conditions for Success criteria, a useful framework for identifying supporting and hindering elements. Additional studies are scrutinizing the link between interventions fulfilling various success criteria and a greater impact on the program, ultimately guiding the refinement of the overarching Theory of Change.
A useful framework, the Success Criteria, helps in assessing the supportive and hindering elements for the implementation of gender transformative interventions for VYAs. media literacy intervention A continuing examination is underway to ascertain if interventions adhering to more conditions of success generate a greater impact on the program, which will be instrumental in further refining the overall Theory of Change.
Three key aspects of parent-adolescent relationships—sexual and reproductive health (SRH) communication, connectedness, and parental monitoring—are investigated from the perspective of young adolescents. In four diverse geographic areas, ranging from low- to high-income settings, and stratified by sex, we examine their link to pregnancy knowledge and family planning service awareness.
Analyses relied on baseline data collected at Global Early Adolescent Study sites in Shanghai, China; Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Denpasar and Semarang, Indonesia; and New Orleans, United States. Multiple linear regression procedures were employed to investigate the associations between key aspects of parent-adolescent relationships and knowledge concerning pregnancy. Multiple logistic regression models were used to examine the association between key characteristics of parent-adolescent relationships and knowledge of family planning services.
Across all four sites, a statistically significant link existed between parental communication about SRH matters and increased pregnancy knowledge among female participants. Furthermore, adolescents in Shanghai, New Orleans, and Kinshasa, specifically girls in Shanghai and New Orleans and boys in Kinshasa, who had discussed SRH matters with a parent, were notably more informed about condom availability. Parent-child communication about any sexual and reproductive health topics significantly correlated with a higher understanding of contraception options at all four study sites among girls.
The substantial support from the findings emphasizes that parents and young adolescents should actively communicate about SRH. Our investigation further supports the notion that, while parental ties and observation are beneficial, they are not sufficient substitutes for comprehensive parent-adolescent discourse concerning SRH issues, which should begin early in adolescence prior to the initiation of sexual intercourse.
The findings provide strong support for the significance of SRH conversations between young adolescents and their parents. Our study's results additionally imply that, whilst parental engagement and guidance are valuable, they are not substitutes for substantive parent-adolescent conversations about sexual and reproductive health issues, commencing early in adolescence before any sexual activity.
Not only do very young adolescents (VYAs) experience remarkable physical and cognitive changes between the ages of 10 and 14, but they also absorb gender and social norms that carry lasting weight, influencing their behavior, especially when they become sexually active. Opportunities for early intervention exist at this age to cultivate gender-equitable attitudes and norms, leading to better adolescent health outcomes.
Growing Up GREAT! successfully implemented a scalable strategy for reaching both in-school and out-of-school youth volunteers, caregivers, schools, and community members in Kinshasa, DRC. Evaluating the consequences of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) knowledge, assets, and empowerment, alongside gender-fair attitudes and behaviors, a quasi-experimental study was undertaken with VYA participants. Insights into implementation challenges and contextual factors were gleaned from ongoing monitoring and qualitative studies.
The intervention group exhibited a marked increase in SRH knowledge and assets such as caregiver connection, communication proficiency, and body esteem. Improvements in gender-balanced viewpoints concerning adolescent household tasks and a reduction in teasing and bullying behaviors were also notably connected to the intervention. The impact of the intervention on awareness of SRH services, body image, shared household tasks, and instances of bullying was more pronounced for out-of-school and younger VYAs, implying the intervention's potential to foster positive development in vulnerable adolescents. Key gender norm perceptions, as assessed, were not altered by the intervention. To enhance the intervention's scalability, design decisions dictated by implementation research led to reductions in training and program dose, potentially affecting the results.
Early intervention's potential to enhance SRH knowledge, assets, and gender-equitable behaviors is confirmed by the results. Shifting prevailing VYA and SRH norms necessitates additional research into effective program approaches and segment-specific strategies.
Results show that early intervention can enhance knowledge, assets, and gender-equitable behaviors related to SRH. They also bring into focus the requirement for a broader evidence base on effective program strategies and segmented populations to shift the established VYA and SRH standards.
Evaluating the immediate psychosocial ramifications of a comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) program on the healthy sexual development of urban Indonesian very young adolescents.
A quasi-experimental study, conducted during the period 2018-2021, focused on students aged 10 to 14 years, across 18 schools in Indonesia, specifically including those located in Lampung, Denpasar, and Semarang. To participate in the SEmangaT duniA RemajA intervention—a two-year, rights-based teacher-led CSE intervention, implemented in classrooms (or online after the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak)—three schools per site were strategically selected and matched with three control schools. A pre- and post-test survey was completed by 3825 students, resulting in an 82% retention rate. A total of 3335 students participated in the study, encompassing 1852 intervention students and 1483 control students. Difference-in-difference analysis was employed to evaluate the impact of the intervention on healthy sexuality competencies, encompassing knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and personal sexual well-being.
The intervention and control groups' baseline characteristics were strikingly similar, presenting a 57% female ratio and a mean age of 12 years. Participants in the SEmangaT duniA RemajA program displayed a marked rise in competencies, encompassing a greater grasp of pregnancy, a more gender-balanced perspective, and improved communication skills related to sexual and reproductive health and rights, compared to the control group. Personal sexual well-being experienced no impact from the intervention, but self-efficacy in preventing pregnancy did show a positive effect. Ocular genetics The subgroup analysis revealed a greater impact among females and students in Semarang and Denpasar, as opposed to males or students in Lampung.
Empirical evidence suggests that CSE programs might promote healthy sexuality skills in early adolescence, yet the observed effect is significantly shaped by contextual factors, possibly stemming from differing standards in program implementation, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Research findings regarding the positive potential of CSE programs for developing healthy sexuality skills in early adolescents appear significantly contingent on the surrounding context, a factor potentially linked to varying degrees of program implementation quality, especially post-COVID-19.
The investigation into the SEmangaT duniA RemajA/Teen's Aspirations (SETARA) CSE intervention, a program implemented in schools across three Indonesian sites, explores the enabling and hindering factors behind its contextual support system.
Data gathering employed interviews with teachers, program implementers, and government officials, a review of program documents and monitoring/evaluation data, and a qualitative assessment of SETARA students.
The enabling environment for CSE relies heavily on the efficacy of introducing the program to government officials for their approval. In conclusion, the findings point to the importance of the partnership between the implementing organization and city government officials in achieving approval, support, and formal agreements related to collaborative initiatives. The curriculum's structure, informed by local policies and priorities, made communication with schools, community members, and parents considerably smoother.