Initiative to Improve Care Seeking Behaviour of Young Women (Madhya Pradesh)

Problem Statement

Young women aged 15-24 years constitute 19% of total female population. Evidence suggests that 53% of married young woman experience pregnancy between 15-17 years of age as Contraceptive prevalence is only 18% among married young women.

Rural young women are apprehesice to discuss Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) issues. Only 7% of young women are reported receiving amy information and majority of young women unaware of menstrual hygiene.

The Government of Madhya Pradesh in collaboration with Ipas Development Foundation (IDF) is strenghtening SRH services under Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) intervention in 12 Blocks.

Fact Sheet

• Intervention sites: 12 RKSK facilities which are based in five districts.
• 29 female youth leaders are identified in this project to cater 328 villages.
• These 328 villages are surrounded to 12 facilities.
• Intervention started from Oct. 2018.
• House listing was done of 328 villages through youth leaders and identified 66,763 young women ages 15-24yrs in these villages.
• Youth leaders organized one to one and group meeting and sensitized 63,972 women on SRH issues till September 201 where majority of young women were less than 19 years(68%) and 32% were 19 -24years. 
• Developed the referral linkages at identified 12 RKSK facilities where youth leaders sent young women for counselling and treatment during their community meetings.
• Youth leaders referred 28,230 young women at identified 12 RKSK facilities where 18,212 got services on menstruation, contraception, Reprotductive Tract Infections (RTI), Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) & safe abortion services.

Source : We Care Coffee Table Book - Good, Replicable and Innovative Practices 2019