"Adolescent Initiative Uttaranchal" (AIU)is a programme being implemented by HIHT currently. The programme is focused on adolescents of 13 years to 19 years and is being run in three districts of Uttaranchal since March 2003. The three districts are Dehradun, Nainital and Udham Singh Nagar, which were selected considering the socio-economic status of the population as well as the topography of the state such that both hilly and plain regions could be targeted.
The program's goal is to improve the overall health and development of adolescents, focusing on sexual and reproductive health. It includes a special component on career opportunities. The program caters to the direct and indirect needs of the adolescents in rural and urban areas. The following are the main thrust areas under AIU: -
• To enhance general health and hygiene among adolescents.
• To enhance the reproductive health and safe sexual behavior among adolescents.
• To enhance knowledge of reproductive health and safe sexual behavior among adolescents.
• Improvement of adolescent maternal health.
• To enhance and assist in career development needs of adolescents.
A baseline survey was undertaken in Nov 2003 under the project. Two blocks were selected per district for the survey. Sahaspur, Ramgragh, and Jaspur in the respective district were selected as intervention blocks, where as Vikas Nagar, Kashipur, and Bheemtal were selected as control blocks based on composite block development indexing on infrastructure and developmental indicators of the block. All together 3980 adolescents were interview during the survey instrument covering following topics:
1. Demographic characteristics of adolescents
2. Psychological health of respondents
3. General health
4. Reproductive and sexual health
5. Maternal and child health of married adolescents