Population Council Research that makes a difference

XXVII IUSSP International Population Conference
26–31 August

Abstract

"Improving maternal health through sexual and reproductive health rights awareness and life skill based training: Experience in Bangladesh"
Farhana Rahman, Ubaidur Rob, and Aftab Uddin Ahmed

Background
Studies conducted in Bangladesh reported a high maternal mortality ratio for the past decades. Approximately 80 percent of girls become mothers before they reach age 18. Lack of knowledge on SRHR among adolescents and lack of skills for empowerment are two major factors responsible for this low performance in maternal health sector.

Objectives
To improve reproductive and maternal health of UCEP students by providing SRHR education and life skill based training to delay marriage and subsequent childbearing.

Intervention area
Providing SRHR education to 4 UCEP school students. Organized FGDs to assess the need of SRHR education in the save intervention area.

Intervention process
The study was conducted by using SRHR manual for the students with a pre- and post-test survey. The findings suggest that knowledge and attitude of adolescents has changed significantly and those who received the education are more knowledgeable on safe motherhood compared to those who have not. Both vicariate and multivariate analyses identified several key factors which have influenced their behavior.

Conclusion
Considering the importance of SRHR education for adolescents, UCEP-Bangladesh engaged their students in SRHR education and life skill vocational trainings to reduce early marriage and economic dependency.

---

Return to: Guide to Population Council activities
Offsite link: IUSSP 2013 conference Web site

---

Media inquiries
pubinfo@popcouncil.org; +1 212 339 0509