Orientation Programme on Adolescent Health for Health-care Providers

Published by the World Health Organization (WHO), the overall aim of the Orientation Programme (OP) is to orient health-care providers (HCP) to the special characteristics of adolescents and to appropriate approaches to addressing their main health needs and problems. This is aimed at strengthening the abilities of HCP to respond to adolescents more effectively and with greater sensitivity. Its main thrust is on orienting (or reorienting) the participants - drawing upon their rich experiences - to help them see and think differently about adolescents. According to WHO, the OP should be part of a multifaceted approach to be effective in improving the way in which HCP interact with and provide services to adolescents.

The OP is designed for HCPs (including nurses, clinical officers and doctors) who provide preventive and curative services to adolescents. It is expected that adolescents themselves will participate in the OP to provide an “adolescent perspective”. It is also expected that other professionals (such as teachers, social workers, police officers and others) could be among the participants, to provide information and share their experiences and insights in specific areas.

It is hoped that health-care and other service providers undergoing the OP will be:

• "More knowledgeable about the characteristics of adolescence and of different aspects of adolescent health and development;
• More sensitive to the needs and problems of adolescents;
• Better able to provide health services to adolescents that respond to their needs and are sensitive to their 'preferences';
• Empowered with information to argue for increased investment in adolescent health and development."

The materials consist of a handout for participants and a facilitator's guide for the overall course (course director guide). In addition it contains tips for the trainers, lecturing aids such as overhead slides in electronic form with accompanying talking points and study materials. Facilitator's guide, handouts for participants, the lecturing aids and study materials are all available on a CD ROM.

The Orientation Programme is currently available in English. A Russian translation will be available towards the end of 2004.