This tool attempts to document the most importance evidence regarding sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in a way that is useful to organisations with limited time and resources, working in the day-to-day practice of SHRH education for young people. It has been tested in workshops in South Africa and Pakistan partner organisations who implement SRHR/HIV interventions for young people. This tool is for project managers who either design new programmes or who evaluate existing programmes. It focuses on the planning of SRHR/ HIV prevention interventions for young people and consists of 28 indicators for successful/ effective education programmes. The indicators are based on existing theories and evidence and are based on the Intervention Mapping framework. The tool looks at different approaches such as a theory and evidenced approach and a rights-based approach and then outlines six tools to support the following planning and implementation processes: involvement; needs assessment/situation analysis; objectives; evidence-based intervention design; adoption and implementation; and monitoring and evaluation.
Useful Resources
The Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication and the Wits School of Public Health have launched a post-graduate degree programme aimed at developing professionals who will promote and implement social and behaviour change communication in health. The study of Social and Behaviour Change Communication will look at a host of health challenges, including tuberculosis, malaria, chronic and lifestyle diseases. Behaviour change in relation to HIV, for which a vast field of study already exists, will also form part of the curriculum. The division will help students develop skills to apply social and behavioural theory to a range of interventions that include social mobilisation, advocacy, social marketing, edutainment and monitoring and evaluation.
Research Matters has launched a new web resource for knowledge brokers and intermediaries. The forum is a shared space for knowledge brokers and intermediaries, people involved in knowledge translation and peers interested in the role. It is designed as a space where you can: access and share resources on the strategic, practical and technical aspects of knowledge brokering and intermediary work; learn from a global community of peers working involved in knowledge brokering and intermediary work; share experiences on knowledge brokering and intermediary work with others; and obtain advice and peer support on issues and challenges they face. In addition to providing a space for discussions, requesting peer advice and posting knowledge-related blogs, the forum will be hosting regular themed discussions. If you are someone who is interested in knowledge translation and how research evidence can influence decision making, you might be interested in joining the Knowledge Brokers’ Forum at the website address provided.
One World Trust, with support from the International Development and Research Centre (IDRC), has created an interactive, online database of tools to help organisations conducting policy-relevant research to become more accountable. The database provides an inventory of over two hundred tools, standards and processes within a broad, overarching accountability framework. With a dynamic interface and several search functions, it allows users to identify aspects of accountability that interest them, and provides ideas to improve their accountability in this context. Each tool is supported by sources and further reading. The site also encourages engagement with and discussion on the database content, through allowing users to comment on individual tools, or to submit their own tools, processes and standards for inclusion.
The Initiative to Strengthen Health Research Capacity in Africa (ISHReCA) is an African-led initiative aimed at building a strong foundation for health research in Africa. ISHReCA was born out of consultative meetings between African researchers and research funders and aims to serve as a forum for African scientist to collate ideas about capacity building and to speak to funders collectively. It emphasises a comprehensive approach to capacity building that leads to sustained increase recruitment, training and retention of African scientists. This website serves three key purposes. First, it provides a forum for African health researchers to discuss capacity building needs and approaches. These discussions will be used to negotiate with funders' innovative initiatives for capacity building and to give feedback to funders on current capacity building initiatives. Second, it is a resource tool for providing up-to-date information on capacity building to African health researchers. Third, it is a tool for collecting information for an African health researchers’ database, which will hopefully be used to facilitate the development of collaboration networks.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the Global Network of Age-friendly Cities as part of a broader response to the rapid ageing of populations. WHO notes that populations in almost every corner of the world are growing older. The greatest changes are occurring in less-developed countries. By 2050, it is estimated that 80% of the expected 2 billion people aged 60 years or over will live in low- or middle-income countries. The Network aims to help cities create urban environments that allow older people to remain active and healthy participants in society. While the response to population ageing has often focussed on the implications for governments of increasing demand for pensions and health care, WHO tries to place more emphasis on the positive contributions older people make to society. It underlines the importance for older people of access to public transport, outdoor spaces and buildings, as well as the need for appropriate housing, community support and health services. But it also highlights the need to foster the connections that allow older people to be active participants in society, to overcome ageism and to provide greater opportunities for civic participation and employment. Cities that are interested in joining the Network, should contact Dr John Beard at the email address given.
This new film, Youth Zones, Voices from Emergencies documents the lives of young people affected by conflict and natural disaster in five countries, including Uganda. It show how, in conflicts and natural disasters around the world, young people, at a crucial stage of their development, are faced with profound challenges. Emergencies often steal their adolescence and force them to undertake adult responsibilities. The structures and institutions that should guarantee their secure, peaceful development – schools, family, community and health centres – have often broken down, leaving them with little, if any, support. Access to basic sexual and reproductive health services, including information on sexually transmitted infections and HIV, is often impossible. Yet in the midst of hardship and deprivation, this film show how young people exhibit tremendous resilience. They raise their younger siblings, form youth groups and organisations, put food on the table for their families, conduct peer education activities, contribute to peace movements, galvanise their communities and contribute in numerous other ways to positive change. The film is available in English, Spanish, Arabic, and Luo with English subtitles.
The updated 2010 healthcare workers handbook on influenza provides detailed guidelines on the diagnosis and management of influenza, both seasonal and pandemic, for healthcare workers in South Africa. It gives historical background to the disease in southern Africa, symptoms, case descriptions, information on laboratory testing and clinical management guidelines. The guide concludes with a section on infection management and control.
Results for Development has launched its new Centre for Health Market Innovations (CHMI), a new initiative that works to improve health markets in developing countries to deliver better results for the poor. CHMI is a publicly accessible global knowledge platform that collects, analyses and disseminates information about health market innovations and facilitates the creation of strategic links among key stakeholders. It provides access to interactive, comparable and filterable information on health market programmes. You can use CHMI for research, to allow you to promote your ideas, publications and programmes, and enable you to make better connections with people in the field. The website contains a programmes database and funder database. It also contains information about health market innovations, which are programmes and policies that harness market incentives and mitigate the negative effects of unregulated markets to provide better health and financial protection for the poor. You can join the conversation on the blog, as well as provide feedback on the site.
This is the first Model Formulary for Children released by the World Health Organization (WHO), which provides information on how to use over 240 essential medicines for treating illness and disease in children from 0 to 12 years of age. A number of individual countries have developed their own formularies over the years, but until now there was no single comprehensive guide to using medicines in children for all countries. The Model Formulary is the first resource for medical practitioners worldwide that provides standardised information on the recommended use, dosage, adverse effects and contraindications of medicines for use in children. The new Formulary is based on the best global evidence available as to which medicines should be used to treat specific conditions, how they should be administered and in what dose. The Formulary also identifies a number of areas where more research is needed to provide better treatment for children, such as child appropriate antibiotics to treat pneumonia and specific medicines for neonatal care.