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1. The Adolescent Experience In-depth: Using Data to Identify and Reach the Most Vulnerable Young People--Guatemala 2002/2006
2. Baseline Survey for BCC Strategy for HIV and AIDS Prevention among Youth People Aged 10-30 Years in Swaziland
3. Coordination for Vulnerable Children: Alliance Zambia's Efforts to Strengthen Government and Community OVC Systems
4. Education Programming for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Affected by or Vulnerable to HIV: Moving Beyond School Fees and Uniforms
5. Indicators for Education Sector HIV Response Programmes: A Review of Existing Resources
6. Missing: Children without Parental Care in International Development Policy
7. Move Together Now! Community and Youth Mobilisation for HIV Prevention among Young People in Uganda
8. New Lessons: The Power of Educating Adolescent Girls
9. Orphanhood and the Living Arrangements of Children in sub-Saharan Africa
10. Orphans and Vulnerable Children Wellbeing Tool User's Guide
11. South Asia in Action: Preventing and Responding to Child Trafficking -Analysis of Anti-trafficking Initiatives in the Region
12. Special Needs of In-school HIV Positive Young People in Uganda
13. Supporting the Educational Needs of HIV-Positive Learners: Lessons from Namibia and Tanzania
14. Supporting Youth at Risk: A Policy Toolkit for Middle Income Countries
15. Youth-led Organizations and SRHR: A Step by Step Guide to Creating Sustainable Youth-led Organizations Working on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights
1. Access, agency and ambiguity: communication about AIDS among young people in Northern Tanzania
2. Age-disparate relationships and condom use among young people in Swaziland
3. HIV alert among Malawian youth
4. Inconsistencies in self-reporting of sexual activity among young people in Nairobi, Kenya
5. India-U.S. collaboration to prevent adolescent HIV infection: the feasibility of a family-based HIV prevention intervention for rural Indian youth
6. Parental HIV/AIDS status and death, and children's psychological wellbeing
7. Risk and protective factors for HIV among orphans and non-orphans in Tanzania
8. When "no" means "yes": the gender implications of HIV programming in a Zimbabwean university
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1. The Adolescent Experience In-depth: Using Data to Identify and Reach the Most Vulnerable Young People--Guatemala 2002/2006 
(2009, 71 pages, 1.7 MB)
The purpose of the Adolescent Data Guide series, which draws principally on data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), is to provide decision-makers at all levels with data on the situation of adolescent girls and boys and young women. The age range covered is 10-24. The data are presented in graphs, tables, and maps (wherever possible), providing multiple formats to make the information accessible to a range of audiences.
Organization: Population Council, UNFPA
Contact: pubinfo@popcouncil.org
2. Baseline Survey for BCC Strategy for HIV and AIDS Prevention among Youth People Aged 10-30 Years in Swaziland (2008, 84 pages, 1.4 MB)
The study described in this document aimed to achieve the following objectives: to develop an appropriate set of indicators for measuring process, outcomes, and impact of a behavior change communication strategy targeting young people in Swaziland; to design a baseline survey instrument to measure indicators, including testing and further refinement of the instrument and indicators based on community response; and to establish benchmarks against which the project will be evaluated.
Organization: Swaziland National Youth Council, UNFPA, National Emergency Response Council on HIV/AIDS
Contact: MukasamonicoS@unaids.org
3. Coordination for Vulnerable Children: Alliance Zambia's Efforts to Strengthen Government and Community OVC Systems (2009, 6 pages, 679 KB)
This policy briefing describes Alliance Zambia's experience of implementing a program to strengthen community support systems for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC). The program highlighted coordination within government, and partnership between government and civil society, as essential building blocks for effective OVC support.
Organization: Alliance Zambia
Contact: jessiem@alliancezambia.org.zm
4. Education Programming for Orphans and Vulnerable Children Affected by or Vulnerable to HIV: Moving Beyond School Fees and Uniforms (2008, 66 pages, 546 KB)
This document explores the current strategies and activities employed by the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) to enable orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) to access quality formal education. It also discusses how to apply good practices for education programming for OVC affected by HIV to the CRS context.
Organization: USAID, Catholic Relief Services
Contact: pqpublications@crs.org
5. Indicators for Education Sector HIV Response Programmes: A Review of Existing Resources (2009, 79 pages, 508 KB)
This document describes a review of HIV and AIDS indicators for the UNAIDS Inter-Agency Task Team on Education. The goal of the review was to help develop user-friendly guidance to measure the coverage, outcomes, and impact of education programs on HIV and AIDS in low-income countries.
Organization: UNAIDS IATT on Education Indicators Working Group
Contact: m.beasley@imperial.ac.uk or m.venkatesh@imperial.ac.uk
6. Missing: Children without Parental Care in International Development Policy (2009, 40 pages, 1.8 MB)
Research shows the number of children growing up without parental care is growing most rapidly in less developed countries. This report warns that failure to keep children in families, out of residential institutions, and off the streets, will be another barrier to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.
Organization: EveryChild
Contact: gen@everychild.org.uk
7. Move Together Now! Community and Youth Mobilisation for HIV Prevention among Young People in Uganda (2009, 99 pages, 2.6 MB)
This guide covers basic ideas on community mobilization, youth participation, and participatory tools with examples from Africa. It provides tools, processes, and activities for mobilizing young people and communities to address youth sexual reproductive health, including HIV prevention.
Organization: Core Initiative
Contact: mail@aidsalliance.org
8. New Lessons: The Power of Educating Adolescent Girls (2009, 162 pages, 4.7 MB)
This report offers new evidence of the dramatic, immediate returns that girls reap when they remain in school during adolescence. It is a compendium of promising, girl-friendly educational initiatives with key features of hundreds of programs, sorted by region and country. The report includes a ten-step plan to count, invest in, and advocate for adolescent girls' education.
Organization: Population Council
Contact: publications@popcouncil.org
9. Orphanhood and the Living Arrangements of Children in sub-Saharan Africa (2009, 40 pages, 310 KB)
Studies have found substantial variability across countries in the negative impacts of orphanhood on child health and education. One hypothesis for this variability is the resilience of the extended family network in some countries to care for orphans. Using household survey data from 21 countries in Africa, this study examines trends in orphanhood and living arrangements, and the links between the two.
Organization: World Bank
Contact: beegle@worldbank.org
10. Orphans and Vulnerable Children Wellbeing Tool User's Guide (2009, 38 pages, 355 KB)
This tool, a self-reporting measure for individuals aged 13-18, was developed as an answer to the elusive concept of wellbeing. It was piloted during a comprehensive evaluation of orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) programs funded by the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in Haiti, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zambia and refined after analysis of the results of that pilot. The tool is 36 questions long and takes approximately 20 minutes to administer. Scoring can be done immediately or via a computer program. Results can be used to monitor OVC programs over time.
Organization: Catholic Relief Services
Contact: pqpublications@crs.org
11. South Asia in Action: Preventing and Responding to Child Trafficking -Analysis of Anti-trafficking Initiatives in the Region (2009, 80 pages, 1.4 MB)
This publication presents a regional analysis of anti-trafficking measures relevant to children in the countries of South Asia. It assesses national legal and policy frameworks and provides a list of recommended actions for the application of a rights-based approach to child trafficking.
Organization: UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre (IRC)
Contact: Florence@unicef.org
12. Special Needs of In-school HIV Positive Young People in Uganda (2009, 38 pages, 871 KB)
The objective of this study was to explore the special needs of HIV-positive young people in primary and secondary schools in Uganda with a view to identifying possible responses by the education sector to these needs. It involved a survey of 718 young people aged 12-19 years who were perinatally infected with HIV, in-depth interviews with 52 school officials, and 938 student essays on identified HIV/AIDS themes.
Organization: Population Council
Contact: publications@popcouncil.org
13. Supporting the Educational Needs of HIV-Positive Learners: Lessons from Namibia and Tanzania (2009, 42 pages, 1.8 MB)
The research documented in this report was designed to address the following questions: What barriers do HIV-positive learners face in accessing education and staying in school? What challenges are faced by teachers and schools in supporting HIV-positive learners? How can HIV education programs be adapted to suit the sexual and reproductive health needs of HIV-positive learners? How does the education sector need to adapt to meet the needs of HIV-positive learners? The inclusion and care of HIV-positive children in schools is a key priority of the education sector.
Organization: UNESCO, EduSector AIDS Response Trust, Research and Information Services of Namibia (RAISON), Youth Participatory Development Centre
Contact: aids@unesco.org
14. Supporting Youth at Risk: A Policy Toolkit for Middle Income Countries (2008, 135 pages, 1.6 MB)
Also available by chapter and in Arabic.
This toolkit addresses creating and implementing effective policies for at-risk youth. It highlights 22 policies that have been effective in addressing five key risk areas for young people around the world: youth unemployment and underemployment; dropping out of school; risky sexual behavior leading to early childbearing and HIV/AIDS; crime and violence; and substance abuse.
Organization: World Bank
Contact: feedback@worldbank.org
15. Youth-led Organizations and SRHR: A Step by Step Guide to Creating Sustainable Youth-led Organizations Working on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (2009, 51 pages, 2.1 MB)
This guide is a resource for young people interested in developing sustainable organizations, specifically those that address youth sexual and reproductive health rights. It draws on the experiences of two independent youth-led organizations and outlines strategic planning, governance structures, fundraising, communications, decision-making models, best practices, and lessons learned.
Organization: CHOICE and Youth Coalition for Sexual and Reproductive Rights
Contact: outreach@youthcoalition.org
1. Access, agency and ambiguity: communication about AIDS among young people in Northern Tanzania. Bastien S. Cult Health Sex 2009;11(8):751-65.
The aim of this paper is to build on study findings suggesting that significant differences exist between young people in and out of school in exposure to AIDS-related information and communication in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. In-depth interviews were conducted with young people between the ages of 13 and 18. Data were analyzed using a thematic and comparative approach to explore similarities and differences. Factors including access, agency, and ambiguity emerged as influencing communication about HIV and AIDS. The authors examine the role of social networks in structuring differences in communication. Findings reveal a discourse laden with fear and mistrust. Coupled with low levels of health literacy, young people--regardless of school attendance--demonstrate an inability to critically appraise modes of transmission and prevention.
2. Age-disparate relationships and condom use among young people in Swaziland. Evans J, Delva W, Pretorius C. S Afr Centre Epidemiol Model Anal (SACEMA Qtrly) 2009:1-4.
In Swaziland, the risk of becoming HIV infected is significantly higher among young women than young men. This difference cannot be explained by anatomical and hormonal factors that make young women particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. This article describes the results of a secondary analysis of the Swaziland Demographic and Health Survey 2006-2007 data. In particular, trends and variability in age differences between young men and their female sexual partners are explored. In addition, the magnitude of the age difference between sexual partners and the association with consistent condom use is examined.
The full text (4 pages, 133 KB) is available online.
3. HIV alert among Malawian youth. Manyonga V, Nkhoma C, Mkandawire P, et al. Exchange HIV AIDS Sex Gend 2009(4):1-3.
Although multiple and concurrent sexual partnerships (MCP) have been identified as a key driver of the HIV epidemic in Malawi, little research has been done on youth involvement in MCP in the country. Population Services International (PSI) in Malawi conducted a qualitative study to better understand youth involvement in MCP. Researchers employed a methodology called FoQus on Segmentation (FoS), which uses unstructured interviews and focus group discussions that involve a visual component, such as a photo narrative, to identify the underlying drivers of behaviors. The study sought to identify beliefs about MCPs that should be changed because they are seen to hamper positive behavior change. It further aimed to build one or more character models and to identify positive strategies that youth use to avoid MCP in favor of single partnerships.
The full text (3 pages, 973 KB) is available online.
4. Inconsistencies in self-reporting of sexual activity among young people in Nairobi, Kenya. Beguy D, Kabiru CW, Nderu EN, et al. J Adolesc Health 2009;45(6):595-601.
This article assesses the consistency of self-reported sexual activity among 2,324 adolescents living in slum and non-slum settlements in Nairobi, Kenya. During two rounds of survey, the authors examined two forms of inconsistencies: what they term "reborn virgins" and inconsistent timing of sexual debut. Factors influencing inconsistent reporting are explored through logistic regression. A total of 469 (20%) adolescents gave inconsistent information on whether they have ever had sex (n = 190) or timing of first intercourse (n = 279). Males, slum residents, and adolescents attending school were more likely to give inconsistent sexual information. Among inconsistent reporters, slum residents, adolescents reporting substance use, and those with secondary (versus primary) education were more likely to reclaim virginity status than to misreport the timing of first sex. However, older adolescents were less likely to reclaim virginity status. The authors argue that researchers should account for biases stemming from misreporting of sensitive information among young people and, in particular, should be cognizant of how reporting quality may vary across demographic groups.
5. India-U.S. collaboration to prevent adolescent HIV infection: the feasibility of a family-based HIV prevention intervention for rural Indian youth. Banu Soletti A, Guilamo-Ramos V, Burnette D, et al. J Int AIDS Soc 2009;12(Article No.35):13 pages.
The authors conducted formative research with youth aged 14-18 and their parents to assess the feasibility of conducting a family-based HIV-prevention intervention for rural Indian adolescents. Eight focus groups were conducted with mothers, fathers, adolescent females, and adolescent males (N = 46), with two same-gender focus groups held for each of the four groups. Adolescents aged 14-18 years old and their parents were recruited from a tribal community in rural Maharashtra, India. The content of focus group transcripts was analyzed to identify themes related to family perceptions about HIV/AIDS and to gauge their interest in participating in a family-based intervention to reduce adolescent vulnerability to HIV infection. Six primary thematic areas were identified. The results suggest that a family-based intervention to prevent adolescent HIV infection is feasible for rural Indian families if it (1) provides families with relevant family-based prevention strategies and knowledge about HIV/AIDS; (2) addresses barriers to participation; (3) is adolescent-friendly, flexible, and convenient; and (4) is developmentally and culturally appropriate.
The full text (13 pages, 304 KB) is available online.
6. Parental HIV/AIDS status and death, and children's psychological wellbeing. Doku PN. Int J Ment Health Syst 2009;3(Article No.26):8 pages.
In a cross-sectional survey, four groups of 200 children (children whose parents died of AIDS, children whose parents died of causes other than AIDS, children living with parents infected with HIV/AIDS, and non-orphaned children whose parents are not known to be infected with HIV/AIDS) aged between 10 and 19 were interviewed and assessed on their hyperactivity and emotional, conduct, and peer problems. Children whose parents died of AIDS showed very high levels of peer problems, while both orphaned groups scored similarly high on conduct problems. Hyperactivity showed no difference and was very low in the entire sample. Emotional problems were very high in all the groups except among the non-orphaned children. The authors conclude that orphans and children living with parents infected with HIV/AIDS are at heightened risk for emotional and behavioral disorders and that efforts to address problems in children affected by HIV/AIDS must focus on both groups of children.
The full text (8 pages, 209 KB) is available online.
7. Risk and protective factors for HIV among orphans and non-orphans in Tanzania. Mmari K, Michaelis A, Kiro K. Cult Health Sex 2009;11(8):799-809.
The objectives of this study were to identify risk and protective factors for engaging in unsafe sex among orphans and non-orphans and to explore whether risk and protection differ by gender and orphan status. The study was carried out in the Mwanza region of Northwest Tanzania. The authors used a combination of in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to collect data from girls and boys as well as from the female caregivers of orphans. Findings revealed that among young people who reported having unsafe sex, those who were female orphans were more likely to state that they “had to have sex” to acquire food and clothing for their households. Caregivers believed that many young people who engage in sexual-risk behaviors do so because they are not provided with adequate supervision and moral guidance. The study suggests that programs may need to target both girls and young women and their caregivers and create access to education and work opportunities.
8. When "no" means "yes": the gender implications of HIV programming in a Zimbabwean university. Masvawure TB, Terry PE, Adlis S, et al. J Int Assoc Physicians AIDS Care (Chic Ill) 2009;8(5):291-8.
This study assessed the nature and extent of sexual risk-taking behavior by students in a Zimbabwean university and identified some of the sociocultural factors that encourage sexual risk taking by female and male students. The main outcome measures of the study were condom use, number of sexual partners, and attitudes toward gender equity and equality. The authors used a cross-sectional design and administered a questionnaire to 933 students. Information pertaining to students' sexual practices, condom use practices, attitudes toward HIV testing, and their beliefs pertaining to women's role in sexual decision making and a woman's right to refuse sexual intercourse were among some of the variables assessed. The vast majority of the university students (83%) are sexually experienced. Only a third used condoms at their last sexual encounter. The use or nonuse of condoms was significantly associated with age, sex, marital status, and attitudes toward gender issues. There were also significant differences in the sexual behavior and attitudes of female and male students.
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