The Context

In many rural areas in Lao PDR, early marriage (at less than 18 years of age) is a social norm. Access to sexual and reproductive health (RH) information and services is difficult due to language constraints, as 47% of the total population is composed of ethnic groups other than Lao, many of whom do not speak the Lao language. Unmarried youth have especially limited access to RH services in the public health system. Increasing migration from rural to urban areas or to Thailand raises exposure to sexually transmitted/HIV infections, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions, especially for young women.

Given the large proportion of young people in Lao PDR (31% of the population is aged between 10 and 24) entering into reproductive life, their behaviour and practice will shape the future of the country in terms of population growth, health status and socio-economic development.

The Project

The project aims at providing appropriate sexual and RH information and youth-friendly services for young people, especially young ethnic minorities in six districts in the most disadvantaged provinces in the South: Saravan, Sekong and Attapeu. Orchestrated by the NGO Health Unlimited, the project uses a peer education approach where adolescent reproductive health (ARH) information is provided to young people by youth peer educators in 60 villages. It also provides support to the provincial Lao Youth Union for the development of youth-friendly RH radio programmes which are broadcast in the three southern provinces. Awareness of district health staff is being raised in youth-friendly service provision and RH technical inputs. These activities are provided by multi-sectoral district staff to enhance RH service delivery and information, education and communication (IEC). Mobile teams provide information and medical services to remote villages that do not have close access to health centres. The project coordinates with other UNFPA-supported projects in the South through RH Coordination Committees, chaired by the Provincial Governor or Vice Governor.

Update on Achievements

• Baseline data were collected in each province on the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of target groups, as well as data on physical conditions, services, partner capacity and knowledge from the Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) methodologies.

• Multi-sectoral district teams were established to train and supervise peer educators.

• District teams were trained in ARH, Training of Trainers methods, Peer Education, PRA and Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) methodologies.

• Mobile medical teams were established to provide complementary services to the other UNFPA supported project (PO1) with the Ministry of Health.

• Provincial Lao Youth Union staff were trained in writing and broadcasting radio programmes.

• 1,778 people were reached through mobile teams and an additional 1,000 exposed to ARH information through special events.

Official Facts

Site : Two districts in each province of Saravan , Sekong and Attapeu

Duration : November 2003 – July 2006

Executing agency: Health Unlimited (HU)

Implementing Agency : Lao Youth Union at provincial and district levels

Financial Facts

EU/UNFPA: US$ 324,703

HU: US$ 43,315

Total Budget: US$ 368,018

Conditions