Promoting Sexual Responsibility Among Youth

The campaign focused on the two earliest stages, when people learn key information and skills, then discuss what they have learned with others, finding support for behaviour change among family, peers, and community. To achieve its objectives, the campaign developed 3 slogans that appeared in all its materials and activities: Have self-control, Value your body, and Respect yourself.

The campaign's components included use of radio, especially 26 episodes of Youth for Real, broadcast nationwide. This programme featured a combination of information and advice, with music and mini-dramas woven in and phone-in opportunities for youth to speak with a peer educator and/or a doctor. Other components included posters, leaflets, a hotline, and peer education. Community-based theatre troupes performed interactive dramas focused on sexual health issues at schools, churches, and town centres.

The campaign sought to build support in the community and within the health care system for reproductive health information and services for youth. As such, a key focus was on empowering local committees (including representatives from local government, religious organisations, and education, health, and business groups) to design activities to reach family, friends, and teachers. ZNFPC also trained providers in an effort to overcome entrenched biases against offering sexual health information and services to young people, and involved health care providers in campaign preparations. Finally, peer educators, drama groups, and print materials refer young people to youth-friendly reproductive health clinics.

Youth, Reproductive Health.