Introduction

Young people constitute one-third of the total population in Ethiopia. Their number is expected to grow from 20.3 million in 2000 to 25 million in 2010. The RH problems of young people in Ethiopia are multifaceted and interrelated. The health of young people is directly affected by these interconnected socio-cultural and economic circumstances in the country. This young segment of the population in Ethiopia is facing multiple social, economic and health problems.

Gender inequality, sexual coercion, early-age marriage, high levels of teenage pregnancy, unsafe abortion and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV and AIDS, are among the common sexual and reproductive health problems faced by many young Ethiopians. Inadequate knowledge about adolescent sexual behaviour, cultural influences and the limited capacity of implementers hinder the provision of reproductive health services to young people.

Being aware of the various interrelated and complex reproductive health problems that young Ethiopians are facing, the Government of Ethiopia has shown its commitment to improving the reproductive health status of young Ethiopians through issuing the National Adolescent and Youth Reproductive Health Strategy (Federal Ministry of Health, (FMOH) 2007). The National

Adolescent and Youth Reproductive Health Strategy reaffirms the government's commitment by setting forth its priorities and agenda for a decade.

As a health extension worker, you have an important role and can contribute to the improvement of the reproductive health of young people through various interventions appropriate for them. Young people have needs that are quite different from those of older people. Therefore, understanding their unique needs is a fundamental issue to helping them. Providing them with an opportunity to access the appropriate information and services, mobilising the community in support of adolescent and youth reproductive health programmes, and working with and for young people are the major interventions that you can focus on in your community.

In this Module, you will learn about adolescent and youth reproductive health in detail. Beginning with the introduction to adolescent and youth reproductive health, you will learn the major sexual and reproductive health problems of young people which include unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion, STIs including HIV, harmful traditional practices, gender-based violence and substance use. You will learn how to help the youth acquire life skills to counteract the vulnerabilities through education and counselling. To be able to do this you will learn how to promote and provide adolescent and youth friendly services. Finally, you will learn how you can manage adolescent and youth reproductive health programmes in your community.

Most of the content of this module is extracted from level IV Health Extension practitioners training program module and tailored for the level three training program.