Last week, AFEW-Ukraine held the training on the providing of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Zhdenievo, Zakarpattia region.

According to the ESPAD-2015 study, the target group of which were regular students who turn 16 in the calendar year of the survey and were present in the classroom on the day of the survey, one-fifth of respondents already had experience of sexual contacts [1]. Most-at-risk adolescents (MARA) have a high level of sexual activity[1]. Almost all MARA had sexual relations before reaching adulthood. At the same time, the level of knowledge about the ways of HIV transmission is rapidly decreasing in comparison with previous years. Only 48% correctly identify ways to prevent HIV infection [2]. Therefore, a five-day training on sexual and reproductive health was extremely relevant for the staff of the project “Bridging the Gaps: Health And Rights For Key Populations” in the regions.

The training involved employees of four social bureaus, including social workers and psychologists. The training was held by Yagdar Turekhanov, a psychotherapist and program adviser of the Public Foundation “AIDS Foundation East-West in Kazakhstan” / AFEW KZ.

“Whether we want it or not, teenagers had, have and will have sex. And this is normal. Morality, calls for morality, hand-wringing and eyerolls will not help us to save the health of adolescents. If we accept our human nature, we can talk about how to make sex free, safe and enjoyable“, says Yagdar.

Taking into account the target group of the project, – and these are MARA, including adolescents with substance use experience, the trainer focused on the main types of contraception and the peculiarities of their use in adolescence, neurophysiology and psychology of dependent behaviour and addiction development of adolescents, the effect of psychoactive substances on sexual behavior, standards for the providing of SRH services. In addition, the participants not only listened and practised their skills, but also discussed case management and informing about SRH – the necessary minimum, principles and techniques, practised consulting and even painted. And representatives of the Union of Adolescents and Youth “Teenergizer” told online about their work.

“The training was useful in the sense that I realized, thanks to the information received, that I should not give an adolescent a “package of instructions for action” to resolve his or her problems. We should come to a decision together. Sometimes I have the right to tell a client about my feelings. I clearly realized that it is not necessary to tell a client my subjective opinion, my personal views and beliefs. It is important to understand that in the center is a client, not a consultant. It is important to listen and understand without imposing anything. It was also useful information that there should be a balance between helping the client and helping myself. This will help to avoid both burnout and using of clients in resolving their own issues“, Iryna Humnazii, social worker, Poltava.

AFEW-Ukraine is grateful to Yagdar Turekhanov for useful, interesting and in-depth training, and to our participants for their experience and collegiality.

[1] http://knowledge.org.ua/file/espad-2015-natsionalnyj-otchet/

[2] http://knowledge.org.ua/uk/file/buklet-otsinka-chyselnosti-pidlitkiv-hrup-ryzyku/