BECOMING
CYCLESMART™
An innovative tool to
increase fertility
awareness & puberty
knowledge among very
young adolescents
Lauren VanEnk
Institute for Reproductive Health
Georgetown University
Adolescents often enter puberty with
little knowledge of their changing
bodies…
“I was surprised by bleeding
from my genitals, I did not
know what it was when it
first occurred ... a teacher
took me in a room that was
next to my classroom and
explained what was
happening to me.”
Adolescent girl, Rwanda
“When a boy develops
facial acne, it means he
has too much sperm
which does not come
out of the body and
would otherwise be
harmful for the body.”
Adolescent boy,
Rwanda
If only I knew
then what
I know now
Why Very Young
Adolescents and Sexual
& Reproductive Health?
• 10-14 years is a time of critical
development for adolescents.
• Sexual and gender identities
are formed at this age.
• Yet little progress has been
made to develop programs for
very young adolescents (VYA)
related to adolescent sexual
and reproductive health.
Looking back...
My Changing
Body: Curriculum
CycleBeads®: Tool used with the
Standard Days Method® that represents
the days in a woman’s menstrual cycle
that addresses
gaps in life skills
materials used in
youth programs
•
CycleBeads has been used in the U.S.
and Africa to teach young people about
puberty
•
Yet, no guidance or tools on how to use
CycleBeads effectively for this purpose
CycleSmart™ Kit
CYCLEBEADS®
CycleSmart Kit
• Includes CycleBeads and a simple,
factual brochure about puberty and
fertility. It can also include sanitary pads,
a diary, a calendar, and information on
how to contact local health providers
• Designed to help young people, ages 10
to 14, develop an awareness of their
emerging fertility and make decisions
which promote their health
• Helps parents, teachers, health providers,
peer-educators and others talk to young
girls and boys about their changing
bodies and how to stay healthy and safe
CycleSmart Kit
Programmatic Guidelines
•
Provides tips and resources on
how to use the CycleSmart Kit
to teach boys and girls about
puberty and fertility
•
Targeted toward youthfocused organizations,
parents, educators, health
providers, religious leaders
and others
•
Intended to be user-friendly
and practical
Product Development
Phase III: Tested
Brochure + Pads
as CycleSmart Kit
Phase I: Developed
CycleSmart
brochure
• 10-15 Key
Informant
Interviews
• Desk Review
• FGDs with boys
and girls (ages 1517)
Phase II: Refined
CycleSmart
brochure
• 6 weeks of fieldtesting by VYA girls
• FGDs with VYA boys
and girls (ages 1214)
• FGD with parents of
VYAs
5 weeks of fieldtesting by 4 youthserving organizations
in 10 sites (urban
and rural)
Community Dialogue
Peer Education
MicroEnterprise
Girls’ Perspectives
“My mum used to ask me every
day if I had moved the ring or if I
had filled the diary, so I enjoyed it
because she was closer to me
and more concerned.”
“Since the time I used the CB,
when the ring of my CB crosses
the dark brown bead, I take my
pads with me (in my bag) because
I know my menses are
approaching.”
VYA girl from Kicukiro
VYA girl from Rwamagana
Parent Perspectives
“Often we don’t know where to
start in terms of talking to our kids
about puberty so we just turn
them away when they ask us
about it. Thanks for this. The
children have been more open
about discussing and asking
questions about their SRH. It’s
important that children learn early
about puberty changes.”
Mother from Rwamagana
Boys’ Perspectives
“Although the brochure is mostly
about girls, it’s important for boys
to have this information because it
helps us understand what girls are
experiencing and to not tease
them about it.”
VYA boy from Nyabihu
“Using [the CycleSmart Kit] to
discuss puberty changes with
parents or teachers will make us
confident to discuss such things
with any person.”
VYA boy from Rwamagana
CycleSmart Evaluation
Objectives: Measure changes in knowledge and identify
areas of brochure that need strengthening
Mean knowledge indices at baseline and endline
1
0.92
0.85
0.9
0.75
0.8
0.7
0.91
0.84
0.76
0.77
0.76
0.64
0.6
0.52
0.5
Baseline
Endline
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
Female fertility
Male fertility Puberty changes Safe choices
CycleBeads
p <0.01
Key Findings
• Helped girls understand changes during their menstrual
cycle, including natural secretions and menses
• Girls able to easily use CycleBeads to track their
menstrual cycles, determine their regularity, and prepare
accordingly using AfriPads.
• Appreciated by both VYAs and parents as a needed tool
which filled a gap that no other tool or resource was
addressing
• Helped facilitate important puberty discussions between
VYAs and their parents, peers and friends.
• Generated interest among VYA boys regarding girls
pubertal changes and their own.
What’s next?
CycleSmart+
CYCLEBEADS®
Why
CycleSmart+?
1. Pilot study success in
Rwanda in 2013
2. Local implementing
organizations wanted to
expand with additional,
effective and engaging
programming for VYAs
What is CycleSmart+?
A new, interactive puberty and fertility program
1
2
3
Youth Education
Parent Education
Community
Sensitizations
Education sessions for
parents of VYAs to
improve their
knowledge of puberty,
body changes, fertility,
safety and self-care,
and gender-equitable
attitudes, and their
ability to discuss such
topics with their
children
Promote an
enabling
environment
for discussion
of VYA
development,
safety and
equity
1. Facilitator-led curriculum; weekly
educational sessions for VYA boys
and girls to teach, catalyze
discussion about puberty, body
changes, fertility, safety and selfcare, and gender-equitable
attitudes
2. Distribution of CycleSmart Kits for
girls
3. Take-home activities; encourage
communication between VYAs
and parents
CycleSmart+ Package
Facilitator Manual
• Provides guidance for youth facilitators on program introduction,
icebreakers, and VYA educational activities
CycleSmart Kit
• Provides information on male and female fertility, menstruation,
use of CycleBeads, safety and communication with trusted
adults
Puberty Storybook
• Adapted from the GREAT Project storybooks, these engaging
and culturally relevant stories follow a boy and girl experiencing
puberty, and the adults and friends who support them
Interactive Game
• Also adapted from the GREAT Project, this interactive game
provides a fun outlet for VYAs to test their knowledge and
continue learning
Partners & Sites
Organizations
Districts
1. Muhanga
2. Nyaruguru
Young Women’s
3. Kamonyi
Christian
4. Nyabihu
Association
5. Rubavu
6. Kayonza
1. Ruhango
2. Musanze
Hope
Foundation
3. Burera
4. Gicumbi
1. Gakenke
2. Karongi
Guides
Association
3. Bugesera
Of Rwana
4. Rwamagana
5. Kicukiro
Thank You
www.irh.org
Thank you!
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