Questions and Answers: Adolescents, Youth and COVID-19

These questions and answers were developed by the World Health Organization, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNICEF.

Questions include:

  • Can adolescents catch COVID-19?
  • Can adolescents spread COVID-19 to other people even if they have mild or no symptoms?
  • Since there are few known cases of adolescents getting seriously ill with COVID-19, should I go to a health facility if I develop symptoms of the disease?
  • I am on medication for a chronic health condition. Should I change anything?
  • I am bored staying home. Since I am very unlikely to get severely ill even if I was to get COVID-19, why is it important that I follow the guidelines to prevent transmission such as keeping physical distance from other people?
  • I am feeling really anxious about COVID-19 and its impact on my life. What should I do?

Source: World Health Organization, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNICEF

Date of Publication: September 30, 2021

Handbook: Sexy, Smart and Safe

The goal of the package of HIV Prevention SBCC Media Materials is to reduce HIV incidence among sex workers (SWs) and their partners and to empower SWs to individually and collectively take steps towards their own protection. The purpose of the package is to: 1) provide SWs with the information they need to make informed choices related to STI and HIV prevention, personal safety, and the law, 2) build individual and collective efficacy around STI and HIV prevention and personal safety practices, 3) increase dialogue among SWs on these topics, and 4) reinforce communication and interventions related to personal safety and HIV prevention. This is based on the assumption that an increase in knowledge, self-efficacy, and dialogue can help SW better deal with the multiple barriers to HIV prevention they are facing. This handbook aims at helping facilitators and sex workers to use the Sexy, Smart and Safe toolkit – explaining the materials and suggesting ways to introduce them to the participants and use them. The Sexy, Smart, and Safe (Rated SSS) Toolkit was developed for group facilitators and peer educators to use with female sex workers (FSW). The Toolkit can be used as part of existing outreach and communication efforts.

Source: FHI 360

Date of Publication: August 9, 2021

Mapping of MARP-Friendly Health Facilities in Jamaica

The goal of the Jamaican Sex Workers HIV Prevention campaign is to reduce HIV incidence among sex workers (SWs) and their partners and to empower SWs to individually and collectively take steps towards their own protection. This is a report of a study undertaken to map the types of most-at-risk population (MARP)–supportive services offered by public and private health facilities as well as the availability of SBCC materials, as part of the research for the package development.

Source: FHI 360

Date of Publication: August 9, 2021

Recommended Health Providers and Other Services

The goal of the package of HIV Prevention SBCC Media Materials is to reduce HIV incidence among sex workers (SWs) and their partners and to empower SWs to individually and collectively take steps towards their own protection. The purpose of the package is to: 1) provide SWs with the information they need to make informed choices related to STI and HIV prevention, personal safety, and the law, 2) build individual and collective efficacy around STI and HIV prevention and personal safety practices, 3) increase dialogue among SWs on these topics, and 4) reinforce communication and interventions related to personal safety and HIV prevention. This is based on the assumption that an increase in knowledge, self-efficacy, and dialogue can help SW better deal with the multiple barriers to HIV prevention they are facing. This card lists the locations of health services considered friendly to at risk populations.

Source: FHI 360

Date of Publication: August 9, 2021

Date of Publication: August 9, 2021

Suaahara Nepal Project

Suaahara was an integrated nutrition project (2011-2016) that worked in 41 underserved districts in Nepal to improve the health and well-being of the Nepali people by focusing on the nutritional status of women and children under the age of two years. CCP partnered with Save the Children; Helen Keller International; Jhpiego; Nepali Technical Assistance Group; Nepal Water for Health; and the Nutrition Promotion and Consultancy Service.

Suaahara means good nutrition, or “a good balanced diet is the strong foundation protecting our lives.” As part of the implementing team, CCP supported strategic social and behavior change communication initiatives that build on this message and model behavior change to lead to improved maternal, infant and child nutrition.

In close coordination with Nepal government, the team created Bhanchhin Aama (Mother knows best), which served as the basis for a campaign for mass and community media. Bhanchhin Aama is a trusted, knowledgeable friendly mother-in-law character who models and promotes positive behavior change.

Project products included:

Source: Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Date of Publication: June 29, 2021

Myths and Misconceptions about Family Planning

This booklet describes some of the most common rumours and misconceptions about different methods of family planning. Rumours about different methods of family planning persist because people do not have the correct information about these methods, the benefits and advantages of using the method and how the method works to prevent an unwanted or unintended pregnancy. The booklet is widely used by community health workers, service providers, youth group leaders, amongst others to inform community members and clients about myths and misconceptions about various methods of contraception. The information in the booklet is disseminated at various community events, for example, during an in/out reach where FP services are being provided as women wait for these services. It has also been used in other community activities, for example, with men during their meetings and with youth at colleges and with women’s groups.

Source: Johns Hopkins University Center for Communication Programs

Date of Publication: June 10, 2021

Eswatini COVID-19 Mythbusters

The ten mythbusters, available in English and Siswati, were developed based on feedback received from chiefdom leadership who identified prevailing myths and misconceptions related to COVID-19 prevention, treatment or stigma related to recovery.

Key mythbusters tackle use of alcohol, garlic, hot baths, home remedies, sex, bleach and sanitizer, and hydroxychoroquine, with key facts. They also address misconceptions that only urban populations or older people are affected and reassure people about recovery.

The myths cover the following topics:

  1. Alcohol: Siswati English
  2. Garlic: Siswati English
  3. Hydroxychloroquine: Siswati English
  4. Older People: Siswati English
  5. Urban People: Siswati English
  6. Home Remedies: Siswati English
  7. Bleach and Sanitizer: Siswati English
  8. Hot Bath: Siswati English
  9. Sex: Siswati English
  10. Recovery: Siswati English

Source: Breakthrough ACTION/Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs

Date of Publication: June 6, 2021