‘Youth-friendly’ health services

N. Salakos, S. Voskakis, K. Tseberi, G. Papadopoulou, G. Creatsas

Division of Family Planning Association of the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens, Greece

Introduction: Since the International Conference on Population and Development in 1994, there has been an upsurge in efforts to provide appropriate sexual and reproductive health services to young people. These new initiatives have been developed in response to the evidence that young people often feel unwelcomed at traditional family planning or reproductive health clinics, combined with an increased awareness of the special needs and rights of youth in the area of sexual and reproductive health. To overcome these obstacles the Division of Family Planning of the 2nd Dept of Ob/Gyn. University of Athens ‘‘Aretaieion Hospital’’ use a model programme so as to provide ‘‘youth-friendly services’’ based on evidence documenting what young people want. The services that the Division of Family Planning provide are the following: programs in the Greek islands distributing informative booklets with condoms. These were realised in 3 islands, and were distributed 4000 informative booklets. The phrase that characterizes these programs is the ‘‘Youth to Youth’’.Speeches in schools, high school and middle school with subjects of sexual and reproductive health. Each year speeches in over 40 schools in all Greece, in over 3000 students are given. Each year is realised an educational seminar which follows 2 seminar circles. The seminar is watched annually from 200–300 professionals of health. Organises speeches in provincial cities in collaboration with other Family Planning clinics, pharmaceutical and medical associations, with subject ‘‘The Sexual health and contraception’’ Over 10 speeches annually. Informative events in world days as the day of AIDS distributing informative booklets in collaboration with the Youth Team of the Hellenic Family Planning Association. Answers in questions of public on issues of sexual and reproductive health via the hot-line that functions in the department. The feedback of these services is the increase of calls in the department and the increase of visits in the department at 10% concerning the previous years.

Conclusion: Providing ‘‘youth-friendly services’’ we create a powerful link between the professionals of health and the young people. Investing in adolescents health and rights will yield large benefits for generations to come.