Project Fact Sheet

Some 40 percent of the population of Lao PDR is aged 10-29 years. This means there is a considerable need for adolescent reproductive health (ARH) knowledge and services – a need which is largely unmet. As social and economic changes increasingly impact their behaviour, Lao adolescents, especially young women, are becoming more exposed to health risks such as sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortions. Unmarried and married youth are equally affected by these changes. However, while the need for information and services for youth regarding sexual and reproductive health is increasing, access is very limited especially among young people in rural areas, where they have lower educational levels and face many health risks. It is important to ensure better access among adolescents in order to reduce poverty, balance population growth with socio-economic development and improve the reproductive health (RH) status of the Lao people.
Through the network of the Lao Youth Union (LYU), the project aims to increase the knowledge and awareness of reproductive health and rights, and gender equality among adolescents and youth by providing them with ARH information including related gender issues. It also aims to strengthen the capacity of the LYU in implementing community-based RH awareness interventions. The main focus of the interventions is on developing quality peer education activities in Savannakhet and Champassack provinces as an effective way to reach both urban and rural, and literate and illiterate youth. The peer education activities use a range of Behavior Change Communication (BCC) materials appropriate for young people on issues such as biology, family planning, prevention of STIs and HIV/AIDS, changes in puberty and life skills. The project also supports part of community outreach activities implemented by the LYU together with the NGO Health Unlimited under the Reproductive Health Initiative for Youth in Asia (RHIYA) in Saravan, Sekong and Attapeu.
To raise awareness of ARH issues among policy makers and other government officials at central and local levels, the project produces advocacy materials and conducts advocacy campaigns in all five southern provinces. It also broadcasts youth-friendly RH radio programmes in the south.