1. Adolescent Friendly Center Medical College Vadodara A Model
Presentation at IAPSM National Conference th February 2004, Chandigarh
By Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha Professor and Head, Preventive and Social Medicine Medical College Vadodara, Gujarat
Technical and Financial Assistance
W. H. O. India Office

2. Medical College Vadodara

3. Adolescent Friendly Center Background
Medical College Vadodara is having a unique model unit for adolescent anemia project (UNICEF Supported) where for the entire district once a week IFA tablet is given
With the good rapport and contacts with adolescent we realized their needs beyond anemia in various spheres.
In WHO Regional Workshop for adolescent nutrition in 2002 the concept of AFC was proposed to and accepted by Medical College Vadodara
12/1/2018
Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

5. INTRODUCTION
Gujarat with 5 crore population has about 1 crore adolescents in the state
Vadodara city with 15 lakh population has about 3 lakh adolescents
Their unique needs remain largely unmet….
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

6. What are the needs of adolescents?
Are Unique and invisible
They are relatively healthy compared to other lifecycle groups with similar morbidity and mortality as adults
Adolescents are an in-between group, with some problem commonalties with children, and with adults.
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

7. What are the needs of adolescents?
However this group passes through very important phase of life and very fast growing phase of life.
Consequences of the effects on adolescent growth are far reaching and affects the whole generation..
So the need assessment study
12/1/2018
Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

8. Adolescent Friendly Center As we envisage…
A special package of care and counseling based on their needs
Provide a nodal agency for networking with other departments and specialties working towards common goal of a well adjusted healthy adolescence for our population.
Create environment to facilitate more easy approach for adolescents to their need through school/ngo involvement
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

9. Adolescent Friendly Center
Medical College Departments
DEO, M. S. University Social Science Departments
NGOs Health Dept
Dept of
P and SM
WHO Country Office
Advisory Committee
Implementation Core Members + Project Staff
177
Urban Schools
With 2000 teachers and Adolescents Students
Out of school Adolescents in the city
193
Rural Schools 56
Tribal
Schools
Beneficiaries
More than Adolescents
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

10. What did AFC do? Needs Assessment Forum for Advocacy and linkages
Study
Dissemination of the study
Forum for Advocacy and linkages
Other departments in the university: within the institution and Out side the institution
School Management
Non Government Organizations
Health functionaries
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

11. What Young People have to say? Self revelation of fears
N=1440 %
Parents
Exams
No Fears
Gods curse
Teachers
Animals
307
255
206
156
119
103
21.3
17.7
14.3
10.8
8.3
7.2
* multiple responses
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

12. Age Wise Fear of Parents Among Adolescent Boys and Girls
Difference is statistically highly significant
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

13. Perceptions of the adolescents regarding their height and weight with the BMI grades
Perception about height and weight
Boys N=479
Girls N=474
Below Normal
Normal
Above Normal N %
Less
More 24 20 6
48.0
40.0
12.0
176 80 42
59.0
26.8
14.0 76 13
58.
9.9
32. 12
70.0
20.0
10.0
186 32
62.4
10.7
22.9 37 17 62
31.9
14.6
53.4
Total 50
10.4
298
62.2
131
27.3 60
12.6
62.9
116
24.5
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Percentiles: < 5th=Below Normal , 5th – 85th: Normal and >85th= Above Normal
Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

14. What did AFC do? Out Reach to the schools
Need based, Family Life Education, Psychosocial and Behavioral, Nutrition, Growth and Development, Reproductive
It is a student-centered, participatory process of learning and applying new skills in a supportive classroom environment
A Huge and Interesting Question Bank generated
At the Adolescent Friendly Clinic Service Unit (Counseling + Care)
Anonymous Service on s and phone..
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

15. What did AFC do? Teachers’ Training for Empowerment
Teachers from English and Gujarati Medium of instruction selected.
2 day highly interactive training program for them
Counseling material developed and shared with them to train other teachers in the school
Training material in vernacular language is under preparation
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

16. Focused Group Discussion With Students and Teachers
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

17. Needs Assessment Study
With Boys and Girls
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

18. Students for Need Based
Group Discussion
Students for Need Based
Counseling
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23. Lessons Learnt
Adolescents have large number of questions and issues for which they do not have places to approach and AFC is one the best option
Majority of the needs are better addressed in school and group environment
Body Image, School performance, Reproductive Issues, Emotional turmoil and Career Guidance are forefront issues
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

24. Lessons Learnt School based services are so much more in demand
Clinic based services are less utilized
Teachers (and Parents) training is as much important as the adolescents counseling to address the issues of adolescents…
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

25. Future of the AFC Continue with the urban services
Expanding the services to rural areas by extension activities to the rural schools and rural based NGO
Initiating the training to rural areas and continue with training in urban areas
Explore the possibility of main-streaming the adolescent center
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Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha

26. Questions?
Thanks
12/1/2018
Dr. Prakash V. Kotecha