Program Regions
Africa
Asia
Latin America
Near East
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 Bangladesh
BACKGROUND
According to the 2001 National Census, 36 million Bangladeshis are between the ages of 10 and 19. The average age of marriage among female adolescents is 16 years (DHS 2001) and 36% of female adolescents who are under 20 years of age are currently pregnant or already have a child. Though Bangladesh currently has a low HIV prevalence rate, Bangladeshi adolescents are at risk as there is evidence of rising sexually transmitted infection rates, increased premarital sex, and more adolescent boys visiting female sex workers. Recent survey results also show that these Bangladeshi adolescents do not have access to correct information about RH.
USAID works closely with the Bangladesh Center for Communication Programs (BCCP), government, NGO, and UN partners to coordinate adolescent reproductive health activities in Bangladesh that will improve adolescent health and reduce the HIV transmission rate. The USAID-supported Adolescent Reproductive Health (ARH) program aims to sensitize adolescents and predispose them to seek more information and discuss issues such as puberty, delayed marriage, delayed pregnancy, dual protection, HIV/AIDS, risk reduction, and RH for young married couples. Within Bangladesh's conservative cultural context, the innovative communication initiative seeks to addresses ARH issues in a thought-provoking but culturally sensitive way.
The Health Communication Partnership will focus on the following USAID Mission Intermediate Result:
- IR 1.2: Increased knowledge and changed behaviors related to high-priority health problems, especially in low-performing areas
Overall, by investing in youth and the future of Bangladesh, the program contributes to the Mission's overall goal to enhance the quality of life of the socially and economically disadvantaged people of Bangladesh by helping to reduce fertility and improve family health. In pursuit of this objective, the ARH program will help ensure that Bangladeshi youth grow up to be responsible members of society. Through behavior change communication, the ARH program will address the issues of early marriage/pregnancy, maternal morbidity, mortality and malnutrition, family planning, and STI/HIV transmission.
CURRENT STATUS
Since 2000, the PCS-funded ARH program has laid the foundation for large-scale implementation of RH communication for adolescents within this conservative cultural context. BCCP chairs an Adolescent Reproductive Health Working Group with key partners involved in youth activities in Bangladesh (SAVE, UNICEF, Marie Stopes, BRAC, etc) and has led this group through the strategic communication process of baseline research, strategy development, materials development, and implementation planning together for ARH. Currently these partners feel ownership for the ARH logo, materials, and implementation methodology and are poised to purchase and utilize ARH materials within their own programs.
INNOVATIONS IN BEHAVIOR CHANGE COMMUNICATION
HCP will provide technical assistance to BCCP as it takes the lead in implementing the Bangladesh ARH BCC Strategy, the first such strategy in an Islamic country in the region. The ARH program uses a strategic combination of mass media and community participation through NGOs and Life Skills programs with youth groups to reach youth. ARH television programs, radio programs, comic books, and videos all feature Bangladeshi youth discussing the issues and offering solutions. The technical program content is reinforced with question and answer booklets and bimonthly flyers with relevant information for adolescents. All activities are "branded" with the ARH logo and slogan for recognition and maximum impact.
Contact: Edson Whitney, ewhitney@jhuccp.org
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