FACT SHEET – July 2019
Problem: In rural Kenya, as in much of Africa, most young people aged 10-24 do not access sexual and reproductive
health (SRH) services. As a result, unintended pregnancies, school dropouts, and STI transmission are common. Youths fear to visit health facilities for SRH because of worries about provider harshness, lack of privacy and confidentiality, and serious side effects from using family planning. For students, having to ask permission to leave school to get SRH is a major barrier. Meanwhile, many providers are not welcoming to sexually active youths who they consider immoral/promiscuous.
Purpose of Adolescent After Hours Project (AHAP):
To test a low-cost, sustainable and replicable approach to increase rural Kenyan youths’ access to SRH services by addressing key barriers:
(1) The convenience of services;
(2) age and youth friendliness of providers;
(3) designated clinic space for youths;
(4) familiarity with provider; and
(5) commodity stock-outs.
Main components:
Extend clinic hours into evening/weekend so youths do not have to be excused from school or be seen by adults
Hire and train newly-graduated nurses to be youth-focused, friendly, and supportive—and dispel myths about SRH
Have some nurses work part-time as a comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) facilitators, to advertise youth-friendly after-hours services and build rapport
Ensure adequate supplies of condoms for facilities
Provide basic facility upgrades to enhance lighting and set up a youth room with furniture, board games, IEC materials
Train rovers to assist nurses to extend CSE into communities and schools
Introduce youth client satisfaction cards (after visits) and AHAP registers to document youths who come after hours. …
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