Progress Report Young couples project in Falta block, West Bengal October 2006 - September 2007

Introduction

Main outcomes of the project Increased awareness of the benefits of delayed marriage of adolescent girls Creation of a supportive and sustainable environment, promoting understanding of the spousal and familial role, and greater awareness of pre-pregnancy, antenatal and postnatal care, including nutrition Greater gender sensitivity among young men, helping them take more responsibility during pregnancy and childcare Enhanced skills and strengthened decision-making ability of young couples to practice healthy reproductive and sexual health behaviour
	Outputs 560 group sessions were conducted with adolescent and young couples 100 newly wed ceremonies have been conducted 50 boys and girls have been trained in vocational training as per their interest 50 peer educators or Community Link Workers have been trained on these issues Improved health and nutrition knowledge, attitude and practice of adolescents

Activities

• Raising awareness of the benefits of delaying marriage for girls: Ongoing advocacy efforts, such as community level events, were made to keep stakeholders, especially religious and opinion leaders, informed about the effect of early marriage and early pregnancy. Inviting them to attend or preside over major events helped generate and strengthen involvement and positive attitudes towards youth sexual and reproductive health activities. Additionally, meetings were held aimed at changing the perceptions and attitudes of mothers-in-law, who wield a powerful influence over the reproductive lives of young people, with a widespread tendency towards gender discrimination, son preference, and unhealthy practices in respect of nutrition, childbirth, and breastfeeding.
  
• Increasing understanding of the spousal and familial role through home visits, community based meetings and newly wed ceremonies to sensitise young couples: Newly wed ceremonies and meetings for new families (newly-wed couples and the in-laws) were organised to help them understand spousal and familial roles and responsibilities before starting a family. This provided an opportunity to offer reproductive health advice to the young couple and their families. In addition, the couple were counselled on family planning methods in a private and confidential way and given condoms and oral contraceptive pills. Within 7-10 days of the ceremony, the couple was contacted by the project staff for provide more family planning counselling and contraceptives. The aim was to help women under 18 years delay child bearing, and others to space their pregnancies.
  
• Increasing awareness of pre-pregnancy, antenatal and postnatal care, including nutrition: Along with individual tracking of newly married couples, 200 community level meetings with newly married and pregnant mothers were organised. Through interaction with other peers, the expecting mothers found psychological support within their own community, where they shared experiences of early pregnancy. The meetings helped young couples to develop gender-sensitive relationships, adjust to their new lives together, improve women's nutritional status, and helped them overcome social barriers and expectations on the planning and spacing of births.
  
• Making young men more gender sensitive: 36 male involvement meetings were organised aiming to highlight the importance of male involvement in family and in maternal and child health. In addition, 6 meetings with the panchayats were organised attended by representatives of various services providers. Furthermore, 29 peer educator meetings were organised at community level, where the various youth related issues were discussed.
  
• Sensitisation events: 37 meetings with parents were organised because parents play a crucial role in the lives of young couples; especially young adolescent girls. 33 cultural programs were organised. In addition, 26 community-based activities such as nutrition camps, street dramas, cultural events and workshops etc. were held. Nutrition camps focused on the need for good nutrition and balanced diet. The event also provided an opportunity to explain the need for increased nutritional food consumption amongst pregnant women. Three teacher's workshops on reproductive and sexual health and life skills were organised. The teachers showed interest in starting sessions on reproductive and sexual health issues in schools, contributing to the process of greater and more effective dissemination of correct information amongst adolescents, and generating greater awareness.
  
• Training health service providers on maternal child and nutrition issues: Two meetings were organised with service providers to involve them in the process of intervention, to ensure greater understanding between the service providers and those who seek these services.

Positive developments Community acceptance of CINI   working with young couples Support from community leaders, block and district departments for work with young couples Identification of resource persons, peer educators and youth leaders from the community The health department has created a separate time for young people to visit health facilities

Challenges faced

• Some religious groups restricted the participation of girls in dramas and cultural programmes, perceiving it to be against their culture
  
• Married girls were not allowed to participate in-group meetings, workshops and fairs owing to social restrictions in the initial stages
  
• Youth-adult committees had more male than female members since bringing men and women together is viewed as socially unacceptable
  

Future plan of action (October 2007 - March 2008)

• Organise a skills-building camp for unmarried peer educators
  
• Continue vocational training
  
  

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