FRONTIERS PROJECT
Introducing an Adolescent Reproductive Health Curriculum in Vocational Training Courses

FRONTIERS worked with the Bangladesh Ministry of Youth and Sports to introduce a life skills curriculum that included information on reproductive health at five of the country’s 47 residential vocational training centers. This curriculum was tested in a previous project (see "Improving Adolescent Reproductive Health in Bangladesh" [2000–03]) and was found to be effective in improving young people’s reproductive health knowledge and attitudes. Twenty instructors received training in the ten-hour, interactive curriculum, which uses multiple learning venues such as stories, quizzes, debates, and discussions, as well as an anonymous question box, to encourage student participation and involvement. More than 500 students, both male and female, attended the course.

Findings from a pre- and post-test survey showed significant improvement in the knowledge of participating students about reproductive physiology, contraception, cause and avoidance of sexually transmitted infections, and reduction of sexual risk-taking. Based on the success of the curriculum in the five pilot sites, the Ministry introduced the life skills curriculum into the remaining 42 vocational centers.

The study shows that participatory education is effective in increasing young people's knowledge of reproductive health within a vocational training setting, and thus is appropriate for use in settings beyond the traditional classroom context. Researchers recommended that the curriculum be offered at the Ministry’s nonresidential training centers as well, with some expansion of training of trainers sessions and curriculum duration, linkage to health and support organizations, and follow-up support for teachers.

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Location

Bangladesh

Duration

January 2004–September 2005

Population Council researchers

Ismat Bhuiya, Ubaidur Rob, Laila Rahman

Donor

US Agency for International Development

Publications/Resources
Council researchers' names appear in boldface type.

2007
"Bangladesh: RH curriculum enhances vocational students’ knowledge and behavior," FRONTIERS OR Summary no. 62. Washington, DC: Population Council. (full text)

2006
Rahman, Laila, Md. Rafiqul Islam, Ubaidur Rob, Ismat Bhuiya, and M.E. Khan. "Scaling up a reproductive health curriculum in youth training courses," FRONTIERS Final Report. Washington, DC: Population Council. (PDF, 672 KB)

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Related Project

• Improving Adolescent Reproductive Health in Bangladesh

See Also

• Bangladesh

• Youth

• FRONTIERS Bangladesh

• FRONTIERS Youth

• FRONTIERS Scaling Up

• FRONTIERS Technical Assistance/Institution Building

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