Adolescent mothers gathered at a facility in Mutungo HC II in Makindye Ssabagabo, Uganda, for antenatal and postnatal care.
A new article published in Global Health Science and Practice (GHSP) details the success of a novel approach by The Challenge Initiative (TCI) in Uganda that focused on integrating adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health (AYSRH) activities into existing family planning programs. Implemented in Buikwe, Mukono, and Iganga, the program was the result of a successful collaboration between the Ministry of Health in Uganda and TCI.
Uganda’s youth population faces a high unmet need for family planning services, with slow progress in improving access and uptake of contraception historically. To address these challenges, the MOH and TCI designed a multi-pronged approach that layered targeted AYSRH interventions onto well-established FP services. The GHSP article aimed to evaluate whether such an approach could increase contraceptive uptake among two key demographic groups: adolescents and youth aged 10–24 years, and older women aged 25–49 years.
The methods involved analyzing service statistics from the Uganda Health Management Information System (HMIS), focusing on contraceptive uptake before and after the AYSRH approach was implemented. The analysis compared results from Buikwe, Mukono and Iganga with 11 other local governments where only the general FP program was running, along with the national average for Uganda.
The results were striking. Prior to the intervention, contraceptive uptake was similar across all studied areas. However, post-implementation data revealed a significant increase in uptake in both groups (adolescents and older women) in areas where the AYSRH interventions were layered onto FP programs. Specifically, areas with the integrated approach saw a 2.4-point advantage in uptake over those with only general FP programming, which had a 1.7-point advantage over the country total.
This figure from the article shows what happened to net contraceptive uptake trends when TCI layered AYSRH interventions onto FP programming in three Uganda districts.
These findings indicate that the strategic addition of AYSRH interventions to existing FP programs not only meets the specific needs of young people but also enhances contraceptive uptake among the broader population of reproductive-aged women. This dual impact suggests that such interventions can catalyze broader health improvements, making them a potential model for other regions with similar demographic profiles and health challenges. The authors concluded:
This article demonstrates how layering an AYSRH program onto a well-functioning general FP program not only contributes to increased contraceptive uptake among adolescents and youth but also boosts uptake among women 25 years and older,”
This research underscores the value of targeted, youth-focused interventions within broader public health strategies. By adopting and adapting this approach, health policymakers and program implementers worldwide can more effectively meet the diverse needs of their populations, ultimately leading to healthier communities.
