Challenge 1
Resistance from parents/adults to your SRH SBCC program with urban adolescents.
SRH programs for young people are not always welcome by parents and other adults. Some believe that talking about SRH with youth or making contraceptives available encourages youth to have sex.
Strategy
There are several approaches that you could try to address any resistance, such as:
- Including parents and other adults in interviews or focus groups to learn more about their perspective from the beginning.
- Assuring them that your program is protecting and empowering young people to take control of their health and make responsible decisions.
- Presenting the facts and research to support your strategy, including evidence that talking to youth about SRH does not increase their sexual activity.
- Involving these adults in the development of your messages and programs.
- Reaching adults during community engagement, so that accurate information about the program is presented and supportive parents can be recruited to your advisory group. Advisory group parents can become credible spokespeople and discuss with concerned parents and/or adults.
- Integrating a component of your program that specifically targets parents and/or other supportive adults. Messages may focus on being a supportive adult by talking about sexual health with your child.
- Training parent peer-educators to work with resistant parents.
- Organizing community dialogue to discuss openly with adults, leaders and parents about the program and resistant behaviors.
- Partnering with responsive leaders to promote messages and to talk with resistant parents.