According to this research brief, technology resources like e-mail, CD-ROMS, listserves, the internet, radio and television have been used successfully by professionals working with reproductive health and HIV prevention programmes in developing countries. As "young people typically embrace the use of technology for entertainment, learning, and communication", these same resources may hold great promise for involving youth in these health programmes as well.

The article is divided into three sections:

Improvement in Knowledge and Attitudes
Some studies have shown that ICT projects "can lead to changes in young people's knowledge and attitudes about sexual and reproductive health issues." An example of attitude change is illustrated by a programme in Chile where the proportion of 400 male students surveyed who felt that men could change aggressive traits and approaches to sexual activity increased from 44 percent to 88 percent after viewing a CD-ROM about gender roles in sexual and reproductive health.

Advantages and Disadvantages
"Computer technology appeals to youth, has a high potential for use, and can provide a lot of information quickly and privately. But there are disadvantagesas well, such as difficulties in finding appropriate Web sites and lack of computer access." Different ICTs have different advantages and disadvantages. For example, there is greater control of the quality of information on CD-ROMs than on the internet, yet the internet is now becoming more accessible than the availability of CD-ROMs.

"When the Demographic Association of El Salvador (ADS) and the Guatemalan Family Welfare Association (APROFAM) developed cyber centers for youth in their office libraries, both programmes were concerned that some Web sites containing key words associated with sexual and reproductive health would not be not appropriate. At ADS, the staff catalogued suitable Web sites from United Nations agencies, religious organizations, and others, and they installed soft-ware to block access to pornographic sites. Still, the youth were directing their searches on the Web."

Beyond Education
"Beyond its use as an educational tool, ICT can sometimes spur social action in community settings, generate income, and teach youth livelihood skills.In the AIDSWEB project, for example, students received small grants from the World Bank's Africa Region to implement community-based activities based on plans developed through the on-line social action module. Zimbabwe participants took HIV/AIDS information to a rural school that had no computer access...."

In conclusion, the authors state that while school-based computercenters are among the growing number of innovative technology projects being initiated, information on reproductive health and HIV prevention continues to be disseminated through personal communication, radio and television in areas that lack computer access.

This research brief is number 9 in a series of YouthLens briefs that summarise information on key issues regarding reproductive health and HIV prevention among youth ages 10 to 24.

YouthLens is an activity of YouthNet, a five-year programme funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development to improve reproductive health and prevent HIV among young people. The YouthNet team is led by Family Health International and includesCARE USA, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Emerging Markets, Ltd., Margaret Sanger Center International, and RTI International.

Click here to download the research brief in PDF format [146 KB].