HIV and AIDS
Examining the Rollout of Pediatric Antiretroviral
Treatment in South Africa
“We are grossly
undersupplying antiretroviral drugs to children, and our prevention of
mother-to-child transmission program is not working at this site. As a
result children are dying in hoards,” explained one doctor who was
interviewed as part of a study of pediatric HIV treatment in South Africa.
While not all the findings were as grim as the one just quoted, the studies
revealed significant deficiencies in pediatric HIV treatment in South Africa.
Poverty, Gender, and Youth
Illuminating the Status of Mayan Girls in Guatemala
Guatemala’s population is among the poorest, least educated, youngest,
and fastest growing in Latin America. Indigenous (Mayan) girls are among the
most disadvantaged, vulnerable members of the population. The Population
Council has conducted research to better understand the status of Mayan
girls. The results of these studies have been used to design programs to
improve Mayan girls’ lives and health and to address the educational
inequities they face.
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Schooling
Poverty and School Dropout in Pakistan
What elements of
schooling and home environments in rural Pakistan have the greatest
influence on whether girls and boys start and remain in school? Is there a
link between investments in children’s schooling and a mother’s reproductive
behavior? Recent Population Council research provides unique longitudinal
data that give insights into these questions. The analysis is based on two
waves of panel data, collected in rural Punjab and North West Frontier
Province in December 1997 and January 2004. A noteworthy feature of the
study is the availability of data on the arrival of “unwanted” births
between the two surveys—a shock to the household whose effects have rarely
been investigated.
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Transitions to Adulthood
Ishraq Expands Horizons for Girls in Rural Upper
Egypt
The transition from
childhood to adulthood is often considered a time of growth in
opportunities, self-awareness, and knowledge about the world. For girls in
rural Egypt, however, these changes often do not occur. As girls reach
adolescence, their lives becomes increasingly confined to the home, their
opportunities limited to household chores, and their future prospects
restricted to early marriage and childbearing. A comprehensive program in
rural Upper Egypt, known as Ishraq (“enlightenment”), has succeeded in
expanding the horizons of adolescent girls, increasing their knowledge and
self-confidence and promoting their civic engagement.
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HIV and AIDS
Ethical Implications of Working with Children
Few resources exist to help program managers and evaluators deal with the
difficult and potentially harmful situations that may arise when working
with children affected by HIV/AIDS. At the request of the US Agency for
International Development (USAID), a steering group was formed composed of
representatives of the Horizons program, Family Health International’s
IMPACT Program, UNICEF, and USAID to develop practical guidelines for those
who work with young people in international settings. The insights and
experiences of this group and others working in the field were collected and
analyzed in a handbook.
2005
Low Chemical Exposure May Speed Male Puberty
A recent, much-publicized study highlighted the adverse
effects that prenatal exposure to chemicals known as phthalates has on
the genital development of male infants. Population Council biomedical
researchers are now studying the effect of prepubertal exposure to these
chemicals on the onset of male puberty. They have found that
exposure to low levels of phthalates can
alter the levels of testosterone (the male sex hormone), increase the
proliferation of cells in the testes, and significantly accelerate the
onset of male puberty. Phthalates are chemicals
used to make plastics—such as those used in food packaging and infant
toys—more flexible. They are also used as stabilizers in many common
cosmetic products, such as nail polish, shampoo, and lotion.
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Transitions to Adulthood
Globalization Is Transforming Adolescence in the
Developing World
More than three years ago, the US National Academies asked Cynthia B.
Lloyd, Population Council director of social science research, to lead
an expert panel in examining transitions to adulthood in developing
countries and outlining the policy implications of its findings. In
2005, the panel’s investigations culminated in the publication of
Growing Up Global: The Changing Transitions to Adulthood in Developing
Countries. The panel found that despite widespread progress in
certain areas, many young people still lack good health and adequate
schooling—both of which are essential for ensuring their productivity
and well-being. The lives of many of these young men and women are
profoundly different from those of their parents. While change itself is
not new, the speed of globalization has accelerated and its scale has
widened.
2003
Transitions to Adulthood
Broad Survey of Pakistani Youth Completed
Pakistan has one of the
largest cohorts of young people in its history, with approximately 25
million people between the ages of 15 and 24. Through the decisions they
make and the opportunities they are offered, this group will play a
crucial role in the social, political, and economic development and
stability of the country. Until recently little was known about the
details of the lives of Pakistani youth. Population Council investigators
sought to fill this knowledge gap by conducting the largest nationally
representative survey ever to focus on this age group of Pakistanis. The
investigation yielded information about the state of education, work, and
marriage and childbearing, among other insights.
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