Advancing Adolescent Health and Development: The Role of Social and Behavior Change Communication

Young people in Uganda constitute the majority of the country\u27s population and yet often limited plans exist for addressing access to services that improve their health and wellbeing. Many young people engage in sexual activity with little or no knowledge about how to protect themselves against the risks of sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancy. Other challenges include having to balance the expectations of the traditional, often conservative, norms against the increasing exposure, through the mass media, to modern ideals. The presentation will highlight Straight Talk Foundation work in serving adolescents and responding to specific populations needs for health and development. About the Lecturer: Ms Susan Ajok, is the Executive Director of Straight Talk Foundation; one of the oldest and first young people focused civil society organizations in Uganda to recognize and act on the unique sexual and reproductive needs of young people in Uganda. She has led several communication programs of the organization. Her areas of expertise are HIV prevention, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights and Gender. She received the 2008 Compton Fellowship on Population, Environment and Human Security and is a Population Leadership Fellow. Annually, Straight Talk Foundation serves about 10,000,000 young people through mass media, interpersonal communication and youth services