Background
Adolescents in Bangladesh face a number of SRH issues, including early marriages, unintended pregnancies, and exposure to gender-based violence. The underlying causes are lack of sexuality education, cultural norms that discourage talking about sexuality and lack of access to SRH services. The adolescents often enter their reproductive years poorly informed about their SRHR. Although adolescent health issues have been included in school curriculum, teachers and students are not comfortable to discuss this issue.

About the project
Our project was to improve knowledge on SRHR issues, among students and teachers through peer education strategy. The team conducted baseline survey on 50 students to evaluate the SRHR knowledge, organized a one-day SRHR orientation session for 300 students and 25 teachers, conduct 10 lectures and 10 group sessions among 40 students and 10 teachers in SRHR, distributed 1000 BCC to 1000 students and guardians, 200 one-to-one sessions and 40 group sessions peer education were carried out, presented one policy brief, held 4 advocacy meetings and engaged 20 stakeholders.

Results
An improvement in knowledge about physical and psychological changes at adolescent period was observed. Maintenance of menstrual hygiene was increased by 35%. Perception on having knowledge of SRH as right increased from 52% to 76% and sharing SRH problems comfortably with family members and teachers increased by 16%. Knowledge on transmission of STIs and prevention of HIV/AIDS increased significantly. Care seeking behavior for SRH problems increased by 10%

Year: 2018