Expanding access of low-income women and men to reproductive health services in underserved urban / peri-urban areas. RAS/98/P62

This article outlines the objectives, strategies and main activities adopted by the Marie Stopes Clinic Society in expanding access of low-income women and men to reproductive health (RH) services in underserved urban/periurban areas. The overall objective of the project is to help increase the utilization of family planning and RH services among low-income men and women in the towns of Moulavibazar, Laxmipur, Narsingdi, and Keraniganj in Bangladesh. To achieve this, the strategies being pursued include: 1) establish four clinics in the towns; 2) enhance the capacity to organize RH service delivery and promote RH advocacy through information, education and communication materials and campaigns; and 3) establish linkages with RH international partners, other nongovernmental organizations, government health programs, as well as non-formal practitioners with the community. The main activities are enumerated and discussed.     

Reproductive health through community involvement with special attention to adolescents and clinical contraception. RAS/98/P63

This article outlines the objectives, strategies and main activities of Save the Children Fund/Bangladesh to increase reproductive health (RH) through community involvement with special attention to adolescents and clinical contraception. It is noted that the ways to increase the range of reproductive information and care available to adolescents are being explored, with a view to improving their sexual and RH knowledge and practices, and to increasing clinical contraception use. The following strategies are being implemented: 1) strengthen the capacity of local partners, which include the districts of Khulna, Moulavibazar, Cox's Bazar and Panchagarh; 2) conduct participatory workshops with adolescent groups; 3) promote advocacy for adolescents regarding their needs; 4) develop a platform for adolescent and adolescent-friendly clinics; and 5) promote community-based programs in RH and family planning, especially contraception. A summary of the main program activities of the project is given.     

Promoting reproductive health practices among working adolescents and young adults (industrial workers). RAS/88/P11

In Cambodia, Care (Deutschland), through the Cambodia Health Education Development (CHED) and the Reproductive Health Association of Cambodia, is working towards the promotion of reproductive health (RH) practices among working adolescents and young adults. The project seeks to reach a minimum target group of 10,000 out-of-school, single, working adolescents and young adults aged 12-29 years, and at least 50 trained RH providers and educators in selected project sites. It also aims to provide specialist RH services to at least 200 single adolescents and young adults per month and per newly operational RH facility in project areas; and to build the capacity of at least two partner nongovernmental organizations in adolescent RH services. As its two-part strategy, the project is sharing information, education, and communication (IEC) expertise and using CHED as an informal IEC clearing house. The main activities of the project are outlined.     

Reproductive health for vulnerable children and youth in Cambodia. RAS/98/P14

In Cambodia, Mith Samlanh/Friends, through Pharmaciens Sans Frontier, is developing a project aiming to provide reproductive health (RH) information, education and care among vulnerable urban youth and children in squatter areas, pagodas and streets. The project also seeks to reintegrate vulnerable youth and correct abusive and risky behavior, introduce RH services in vulnerable communities, and to build the capacity of partner nongovernmental organizations in all aspects of the project. As its strategy, it works with vulnerable groups, including commercial sex workers and street children in Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham province, to teach them useful skills. A summary of the main program activities is presented.     

Media education to improve adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Cambodia. RAS/98/P10

Through the use of interactive radio and other media, Health Unlimited through its implementing agencies, the Cambodia Health Education Media Services and Cambodia Health Education and Development is working towards increasing knowledge of reproductive and sexual health among Cambodian adolescents. It also seeks to promote the use of reproductive and sexual health services for the youth; improve youth involvement in developing information, education and communication (IEC) materials on reproductive health; and increase the capacity of nongovernmental organizations, government agencies and the private sector to develop IEC for the youth. The strategies being pursued include exploring the role of radio and using nongovernmental organization expertise in radio show production and sharing IEC messages with the media. The main activities being carried include the production of interactive radio magazine programs for the youth along with magazine supplements, training of health and media staff and providing them with work experience, and involving the youth in media production by using an interactive format and focus group discussion.     

ARH in Cambodia (Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville municipalities and Battambang and Kampong Cham provinces). RAS/98/P12

In Cambodia, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, through the Reproductive Health (RH) Association of Cambodia, seeks to help strengthen the national capacity to deliver RH services and high-quality RH information, education and communication (IEC) materials for adolescents in four project areas. It also aims to increase the utilization of RH services by young people aged 12-25 years. Its strategies include providing back-up IEC services and specialist technical inputs to the production of radio shows, and sharing the family life education curriculum as a resource. The main activities of the project consist of: 1) meeting with stakeholders to encourage community participation and carrying out needs assessment; 2) organizing adolescent reproductive health services and providing special clinic facilities; 3) setting up of youth club activities and mobilizing, training and supporting youth volunteers to provide outreach, peer education and referrals to clinic services; and 4) training and disseminating IEC materials.     

Strengthening access to improved reproductive health services through the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society. RAS/98/P64

This project aims to strengthen access to improved reproductive health (RH) services through the Bangladesh Red Crescent Society (BDRCS). Being the implementing agency, the facilities and technical and human resource capacity of BDRCS should be strengthened in order to manage quality RH services, especially clinical family planning and safe motherhood activities. In addition, strengthening of the BDRCS should be done to enhance Red Cross volunteer activities by mobilizing grassroots men and women to raise the demand for family planning and reproductive health services, with assistance from government health workers. To this effect, several strategies are implemented: 1) upgrade two BDRCS hospitals in Sylhet and Banglabazar; 2) provide postnatal counseling for clinical contraceptive by trainee paramedics and nurses; and 3) establish referral linkages with other RH international partners. Target groups include the Sylhet town and old parts of Dhaka City. An outline of the main activities of the project is given.     

Reproductive health for marginalized youth in Phnom Penh and Kratie province. RAS/88/P13

In Phnom Penh and Kratie province, Save the Children Fund/UK, through its implementing agencies (Women's Organizations for Modern Economy and Nursing, Squatters? Urban Poor Federation, Kratie Women?s Welfare Organization), is working to improve knowledge of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among marginalized youth aged 12-25 years. Moreover, the project seeks to increase access to contraceptive methods among young people in selected squatter communities, and to help change adolescent attitudes and behavior, as well as improve their life skills. The strategies being pursued include assessing the training needs of nongovernmental organizations and organizing shared training in reproductive and sexual health, as well as quarterly meetings to enable the sharing of experiences. A summary of the main activities of the project is presented.     

Youth and adolescent reproductive health umbrella project. RAS/98/P16

This project emphasizes two objectives: 1) establishing a database for the RHI; and 2) facilitating shared training courses and exchange visits between RHI projects. Other objectives are focused on facilitating regular meetings between component projects and the national advisory group, serve as a resource on adolescent reproductive health and the RHI, and develop publicity materials and monitoring mechanisms for the RHI. As its strategy, the project is maximizing collaboration and synergy among the RHI component projects by facilitating linkages and shared activities. Main activities included in the project are: 1) assist in developing monitoring system, establish an ARH database, support nongovernmental organizations, and visit projects; 2) facilitate the development of an information, education, and communication (IEC) strategy, hold training workshops and meetings, and share IEC strategy and messages; 3) exchange ARH information and participate in World Population Day, IWD, and World Aids Day.     

Bangladesh: recognizing adolescents as a great resource

This article presents the initiatives undertaken by the government and other organizations to improve adolescent reproductive health in Bangladesh. The Health and Population Sector Programme under the 5-year Health and Population Sector Strategy (HPSS) of Bangladesh targeted married youth and soon-to-be-married adolescents. It has provided training of field workers so they can provide health services in an adolescent-friendly atmosphere. The Government has also collaborated with nongovernmental organizations and agencies that could help in the formulation of well-planned policy for adolescent health. These agencies include the UN International Children's Emergency Fund, UN Population Fund and WHO. In addition, on-going multisectoral coordination of various sectors, such as education, labor law and justice, youth and social affairs, has been developed and has contributed to the success of the Programme.     

Umbrella project for Bangladesh: strengthening NGO capacity and linkages to improve reproductive health service and information. RAS/98/P55

In Bangladesh, the UN Population Fund is working to strengthen nongovernmental organization (NGO) capacity and linkages to improve reproductive health services and information. Specifically, the aim is to strengthen the technical and human resource capacity of participating NGOs and the functional linkages between national NGOs and relevant government agencies to help harmonize and standardize the delivery of reproductive health information and services. This umbrella project collaborates with RHI-participating NGOs in a policy paper on adolescent reproductive health, and will maintain contact with the regional dimension project to collaborate its activities. Programs implemented by partner NGOs are being reviewed and monitored, and linkages among national NGOs and government agencies are being developed. The main activities of the project are enumerated.     

Ganokendra: An Innovative Model for Poverty Alleviation In Bangladesh

Ganokendras (people’s learning centers) employ a literacy-based approach to alleviating poverty in Bangladesh. They give special attention to empowering rural women, among whom poverty is widespread. The present study reviews the Ganokendra-approach to facilitating increased political and economic awareness and improving community conditions in line with government initiatives for poverty reduction. Many Ganokendras implement programmes geared towards income-generating activities and establish linkages with other service providers, both governmental and non-governmental. As is shown, one particularly successful strategy for facilitating women’s economic empowerment involves co-ordinating micro-credit available through other agencies.     

National news. Indonesia. Promoting ARH awareness

Limited availability of IEC materials is hindering efforts to promote adolescent reproductive health in Indonesia. This, in turn, reflects a lack of awareness on the part of policy makers and community leaders about the importance of interventions directed at young people. Two ongoing United Nations Population Fund projects seek to promote awareness of adolescent reproductive health needs in Jakarta, Yogyakarta, West Java, Bali, Lampung, and Riau. A coalition of governmental and nongovernmental agencies has been established to implement the project. By project end in 1999, government agencies and nongovernmental organizations are expected to have incorporated youth-oriented activities into their overall programming and formulated relevant policy guidelines. Another project (Strengthening Strategies to Improve Adolescent Reproductive Health through Materials Development), implemented by the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association, is focusing on the development and distribution of reproductive health materials for specific target audiences.     

Without Sex Education: Exploring the social and sexual vulnerabilities of rural Bangladeshi girls and boys

In 1997, two organizations, BRAC (Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee) and ICDDR,B (International Center for Diarrheal Disease Research), as part of their collaborative research model, developed an HIV/AIDS prevention strategy for rural Bangladeshi youth. Currently, HIV/AIDS is not apparent in rural Bangladesh. Other sexual and reproductive health problems are more pressing. Moreover, there are few inor out-of-school sex education programs for adolescents in Bangladesh. Therefore, preliminary qualitative research was conducted to understand the broad parameters of sexual and reproductive health within the sociocultural context of young people's risks and vulnerabilities. Exploratory research revealed that youth were vulnerable to sexual diseases, late-term abortions, sexual violence, reproductive tract infections, and premarital pregnancies. Adolescents and adults thought that youth today need sex education. Adults said that youth should not be educated about condom use because this would conflict with a girl's prospects for an arranged marriage. Bangladeshi youth today are being exposed to experiences unfamiliar to their parents. Lacking appropriate knowledge, information and awareness about sexual and reproductive health unduly heightens young people's fears, and increases their social and sexual vulnerabilities.     

Ganokendra: An Innovative Model for Poverty Alleviation In Bangladesh

Ganokendras (people’s learning centers) employ a literacy-based approach to alleviating poverty in Bangladesh. They give special attention to empowering rural women, among whom poverty is widespread. The present study reviews the Ganokendra-approach to facilitating increased political and economic awareness and improving community conditions in line with government initiatives for poverty reduction. Many Ganokendras implement programmes geared towards income-generating activities and establish linkages with other service providers, both governmental and non-governmental. As is shown, one particularly successful strategy for facilitating women’s economic empowerment involves co-ordinating micro-credit available through other agencies.     

家庭教养、社会公众支持与特殊儿童生活满意度——基于新疆伊宁市172份特殊儿童问卷调查

特殊儿童的生活满意度普遍低于正常儿童。家庭教养和社会公众支持作为儿童社会系统的两个重要组成部分,对特殊儿童生活的满意度具有显著的影响。特殊机构福利组织教养可以弥补家庭教养的弊端,并且提高社会公众支持水平。要提高特殊儿童的生活满意度,特殊儿童的教养方式应由家庭教养向社会福利机构教养转变。     

成人高等教育转型发展视域下的教育中介组织发展策略探究

教育中介组织对于成人高等教育的转型发展具有十分重要的意义,当前成人高等教育中介组织在发展上存在着官民背景中介组织发展不平衡、自身经营管理能力较弱以及社会公信力不足等一些问题。在成人高等教育转型发展的迫切需求下,教育中介组织的发展除了需要强化之外,还要考虑成人高等教育转型的特殊需要,其发展策略包括：弱化官民背景分割、引入市场竞争机制和完善监督评估体制。     

Using Social-Impact Borrowing to Expand Preschool-to-Third Grade Programs in Urban Schools

Budget constraints and difficulty raising taxes limit school districts from expanding education programming, even when research shows that additional expenditures would generate economic benefits that are greater than costs. Recently, coalitions of private investors, philanthropists, education practitioners, and government finance analysts have emerged to create opportunities to expand education services that promise high rates of social net benefits without raising taxes or reducing other expenditures. These collaborators have a strong interest in obtaining careful estimates of educational program effectiveness. We describe the use of social-impact borrowing to increase access to the Child-Parent Center preschool-to-third grade intervention for at-risk students in the Chicago Public School District. The partners include the city, school district, investors, nonprofit organizations, and a university. The key to the feasibility of social-impact borrowing is the ability to document that early intervention can reduce the need for later special-education services. With the help of private investors and nonprofit organizations, it is possible for public school districts to finance services with funds from private sources and use future cost savings to repay this debt. We discuss how social-impact borrowing is being used in Chicago and in Salt Lake County as the nation's first 2 instances of using pay-for-performance social-impact borrowing to support early education.     

Survey reveals slow strides in promoting adolescent reproductive health in Vietnam

This article presents the findings of a survey evaluating the adolescent reproductive health program by the Vietnamese Government. Conducted by the Population Research Consultants, survey findings revealed several setbacks of the adolescent reproductive health program; these included the following: 1) adolescents favor radio, television and newspapers as sources of reproductive health (RH) information; 2) adolescents have no knowledge of pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS prevention; 3) the demand for RH information varies according to the sociodemographic characteristics of respondents; 4) while the majority of adolescents do not favor premarital sex and premarital pregnancy, their choice is to keep and deliver the baby in case of a premarital pregnancy; 5) adolescents give a poor rating to the quality of RH/family planning services at the centers; 6) adolescents need to further understand RH but not knowing its meaning, they cannot tell what type of information they require; 6) adolescents have poor knowledge of adolescent reproductive health; 7) friendship and love are often discussed among adolescents, but sexuality rarely is; and 8) adolescents have poor knowledge of RH and poor interest in RH/family planning service facilities.     

试析我国高等教育投入制度的改革方向

中国高等教育投入实行以财政拨款为主、其他多种渠道筹措经费为辅的体制。近年来,政府拨款总量快速上涨,但其在高等学校总收入中的相对份额却不断下降。今后增加经费的重点是除学费外的其他社会投入。研究型大学要努力增加科研收入、地方高校要多开展社会服务活动,努力使捐赠成为大学经费来源的一个重要增长点。在继续发挥政府财政拨款主渠道作用方面,需要进一步改革高等教育拨款模式,加强对中央财政专项经费的绩效管理,积极推动省级财政按有关生均标准对地方高校进行拨款;在有效调整高等学校自身吸引社会投入的政策方面,高校要树立成本意识,同时,大力发展民办教育以增加高等教育的投入。