Interagency Youth Working Group

Young people, especially those who are sexually active, need a variety of services, including contraception, HIV counseling and testing, testing and treatment for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs), pre- and postnatal care, and postabortion care. Health facilities serving youth may offer one primary service, have separate units providing different types of services, or rely on a referral system. As a result, many young people who are at risk of both pregnancy and STIs/HIV may receive only one service while related sexual health needs are not addressed.

Research shows that integrated services for youth are feasible in diverse settings and there is a strong need for various services in a single setting. While programs are beginning to offer integrated services for youth using various approaches, including youth centers, outreach services from youth facilities, and adding youth-friendly services to adult clinics, more research is needed to determine cost-efficient and effective service delivery models. Below are resources that may provide guidance.

For more information, also see the Youth-friendly Services program area.

Recommended Resources

Reports and Briefs

Youth Lens No. 21. Integrating Reproductive Health and HIV Services for Youth (PDF, 185 KB)
Summarizing the latest information on integrating reproductive health and HIV services for youth, this report identifies the need for more attention to pregnancy prevention in a variety of settings and further testing of service delivery models. (Family Health International/Interagency Youth Working Group, 2007)

Youth Research Working Paper No. 6. Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services for Youth and Linkages with Other Reproductive Health Services in Haiti (PDF, 370 KB)
This report describes the health needs of youth seeking VCT services. The study found that clinics need to increase the availability of contraception to youth, by training providers in family planning methods. (Family Health International/YouthNet, 2007)

Youth Research Working Paper No. 5. Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services for Youth and Linkages with Other Reproductive Health Services in Tanzania (PDF, 315 KB)
This report found that youth VCT and reproductive health clients both need and desire integrated services, but these needs are not being met and many opportunities are missed for providing needed information, counseling, and condom distribution to those at immediate risk of HIV and unintended pregnancy. (Family Health International/YouthNet, 2006)

Youth Research Working Paper No. 4. An Assessment of Services for Adolescents in Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission Programs (PDF, 401 KB)
This report describes results from an assessment of four antenatal care clinics with PMTCT programs in Kenya. Investigators assessed HIV/
AIDS-,  PMTCT-, and contraceptive-related knowledge, awareness, and attitudes that influenced services. (Family Health International/YouthNet, 2006)

Guides and Tools

Training guide for HIV Counseling and Testing for Youth: A Manual for Providers (PDF, 140 pages, 919 KB)
This guide was developed to train providers to use HIV Counseling and Testing for Youth: A Manual for Providers (see resource below). The training guide emphasizes an integrated approach to counseling youth during HIV testing. It features interactive exercises, participant practice sessions, PowerPoint slides, and other training tools. Among topics covered are an introduction to integrated counseling and testing services, clinical and nonclinical models of counseling and testing, major steps in providing integrated counseling and testing, an overview of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy prevention methods, social marketing, and community support for integrated youth services. (Interagency Youth Working Group, 2008)

HIV Counseling and Testing for Youth: A Manual for Providers (PDF, 496 KB)
This manual provides:

• An integrated approach – with step-by-step information on HIV counseling and testing as well as easy reference charts for counselors on contraceptive methods and on STIs
• Tips and role-plays to use with young people on abstinence, being faithful, and using condoms
• A guide for creating a referral network and more
  (Family Health International/YouthNet, 2004, updated 2007)

Integrating Family Planning and HIV/AIDS Services for Young People: Tools for Programming
This report summarizes tools that can assist programs to plan and implement integrated services for youth. The tools are summarized in four sections: developing youth-friendly services, training providers, supporting providers with job aids, and promoting services in the community. (INFO Project, John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2007)

Integrating HIV Voluntary Counselling and Testing Services into Reproductive Health Settings (PDF, 528 KB)
This report is designed to guide programs in integrating services using a series of steps. It could be adapted to focus on youth services. (UNFPA and IPPF/South Asia, 2004)

Family Planning/HIV Integration: Technical Guidance for USAID-Supported Field Programs (PDF, 252 KB)
This document helps program managers identify key technical approaches when considering program integration of family planning and HIV, and includes a section on youth. (USAID, 2003)

Providing Reproductive Health and STI/HIV Information and Services to this Generation: Insights from the Geração Biz Experience (PDF, 1.05 MB)
This project report documents the initial stages of a national adolescent project that improves knowledge of sexual and reproductive health, decreases vulnerability to HIV/AIDS, and reduces the frequency of unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion through integrated youth-friendly services. (Pathfinder, 2002)

Resources for HIV/AIDS and Sexual and Reproductive Health Integration
This Web site, hosted by the HIV/AIDS Integration Partners Working Group, includes a section on youth.