The Youth Bash has been proven to be an effective strategy in mobilizing youth for Sexual Reproductive Health services as its youth focused, edutainment mix and integrated services giving service options.

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Category: Track B: Clinical Science, Treatment and Care
Title: Tittle: Using “Youth Bashes” to provide integrated Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH)
information and services in Uganda.
Author(s): Kasansula Daniel, Asiimwe Brian, Kagguma Edward, Zikusooka Amos
Institute(s): Family Health International (FHI360), Communication for Health Communities, Kampala, Uganda
Text: Issues:
UNAIDS recommends that by 2020, at least 90% of all people living with HIV know their sero-
status, 90% receive antiretroviral-therapy (ART) and all the 90% on ART have their viral-load
suppressed. Currently the percentage of youth (15-24) with comprehensive knowledge about HIV
stands at 46% for females and 45% for males respectively (UAIS 2011), the HIV prevalence among
Adolscent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) stands at 4.9% for the (15-19) and 7.1 % for 20-24
respectively (UDHS 2016). This shows that without innovative ways to adress these new infections
Uganda will most likely not achieve the UNAIDS target by 2020.
This paper describes the innovative SBCC approches undertaken by CHC a USAID supported
project to adress high HIV prevelance and teeenage preganancy rates among the AGYW.
Descriptions: In 2016, CHC together with Ministry of Health (MoH) other United States
Government (USG) partners deployed a communication strategy targeting AGYW's and their male
partners aged 15-24. The strategy deployed youth bashes, known as Kadankes, which combines
entertainment, health education and referral to critical services focusing on prevention of HIV and
unplanned pregnancy. This four-day community level SBCC approach uses peer facilitators who
are trained and equipped with tools and skills to conduct community mobilization activities which
include home visits, one on one and small group discussions targeting their peers.
Lessons learned: Within 6 months implementing the kadankes, over 26,064 AGYWs and their
male partners were reached with integrated youth friendly SRH services including; health education
and service delivery of; HIV testing services, STI screening and treatment, contraceptives, SMC,
HPV immunization, cervical cancer screening, malaria testing and treatment, condom
demonstrations and distribution plus skills building activities to fully engage the youth.
The strategy creates a market place of youth as a safe corner space where youth find fellow youth,
show case their products and access health services, unlike other mobilization strategies that focus
on one service. It strengthened the community- health facility linkages with over 20,000 AGYW and
their male partners were referred.
The Youth Bash has been proven to be an effective strategy in mobilizing youth for SRH services
as its youth focused, edutainment mix and integrated services giving service options.
Next steps:
Support USG IPs to Integrate youth bashes in their SRH programming.
Preferred Presentation
Type:
New knowledge or analysis on the HIV epidemic and its future implications
Conference: 19th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA 2017) · Abstract: A-918-0002-01896 · Status: Draft
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