NURHI advocates multi-target approach for RH reportage

Issues surrounding Reproductive Health which include, but not restricted to Myths, Misconceptions and Barriers especially concerning the adolescents and youths were brought to the fore at a meeting organized by Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) to sensitize Journalists on Strategic Approaches to Family Planning for Adolescents and Youths reportage which held at AHI Hall, Jibowu, Lagos, SUCCESS DAMIAN reports:

The NURHI organised sensitization workshop was designed to equip Journalists as information disseminators on the best strategy to inform and educate the public on issues of Reproductive health.

Much of the discussion which centered on Media Strategic Approaches in Promoting Adolescent and Youths Reproductive Health/ Life Planning for Adolescents and Youths (AYSRH/LPAY); also has discussions around the right content, language, and ensuring a balanced reproductive health system reportage.

Speaking on Media Strategic Approaches in Promoting AYSRH/LPAY, DEVCOMS Program Director, Mr Akin Jimoh said the major objective of the topic is to help understand the strategic role of the media in safeguarding the life of the Nigerian adolescents and youths in relation to their sexual behaviours; help understand the media consumption patterns of the Nigerian youths and adolescents vis a vis reproductive health; suggest strategic media engagement framework for influencing positive sexual behaviours for the youths and adolescents for better lives; discuss some tactical media approaches to preventing consequences of unbeneficial sexual behaviours and engage the partnership of the media to support LPAY and influence policies.

In his words, “The Role of the media include raising awareness about LPAY, Inform listeners, readers and viewers about steps they can take to protect themselves and others Serve as source of accurate LPAY information for young people; Mobilise stakeholders to play their parts in promoting LPAY, regularly generate discussions on LPAY for young people, access to quality Life Planning information and services is about reaching their maximum life potentials and adding value to the society.”

Jimoh also stated that Life Planning for Adolescents and Youths (LPAY) is a program designed to enable young people ages 15-24 to become informed and actively make responsible and healthy choices in matters related to their reproductive health.

This, according to him is because they are confronted by their sexuality which is in full bloom, largely in search for clear sexual identity, though having limited or no guided supply of knowledge or information about their sexuality.

He said they generally require guidance on sexual issues; need the appropriate media perspectives on reproductive health.

Continuing on the youths and adolescents he said “There is a correlation between the stage of our national development and the state of Nigerian youths, there is so much democracy and self-help technology, with large percentage of them being affected by unemployment, faulty education system and poverty. They are also largely influenced by new media and continuous reinforcement of risky sexual habits by the environment.”

Jimoh said adolescents in Nigeria generally have low levels of contraceptive use which in turn result in unplanned pregnancy and the high rate of abortions (Guttmatcher, 2001 via NURHI), adding that there is very limited media space for health generally, very little on reproductive health, and that Information shared by the media on RH is sometimes complex, while Capacity of traditional media diminishes for economic reasons.

Jimoh added that there is need for a multi target approach that target both the parents and the youth.

“It is therefore more urgent now than ever to upheld, support and promote the sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents and youth especially girls so that they will not continue to lose their lives needlessly,” he said.

Speaking on subtopics which include Introduction to Planning for Adolescent, who are Adolescents and why life planning, frequently asked questions about Life Planning for Adolescent and Youths (LPAY), barriers to adolescents and youth contraception; Youth Programme Officer, Agani Bless-me Oluwatobilola, said Journalist has great role to play in education and dissemination of information on reproductive health system especially as it concerns the youths and adolescents.

Describing adolescence as a period of transition between childhood and adulthood which requires special attention and protection, Owuwatobilola said “It is a period in which 'although no longer considered a child, the young person is not considered an adult either’. It is a period of social, economic, physiological and psychological development; a period of stress, experimentation and disorganization, a period of opportunities, risk and vulnerabilities.

She said there is minimal flow of information on RH/FP to young persons from the traditional media while religious leaders promote mainly abstinence for unmarried youth.

Community structure tends to be biased towards unmarried and sexually active youth.