One component of the RHI project supported by ESF focuses on the production of RH IEC materials for certain ethnic minority groups in Luang Namtha. Amongst the Lanten, Akha and Thai Dam groups, marriage and pregnancy at the onset of puberty is frequent and a poster was designed to show the risks of adolescent pregnancy. In many groups it is common for men to drink excessively and subsequently neglect their family responsibilities. A material illustrating the gender imbalance of such practices is used to generate discussion in literacy classes. Desperate for information about family planning, a flip chart illustrating methods of contraception was produced.
All materials show people wearing specific traditional dress.
RH awareness-raising events are conducted in the villages after harvest time. The results indicated a large gap in their knowledge of SRH issues and an apparent lack of communication on SRH matters between adolescents and adults. The adolescents unanimously acknowledged shyness and fear of a negative response as the major impediment to accessing SRH information. Adolescents from all discussion groups were highly interested in having an adolescent SRH newsletter. After the research was completed, in September 2000 the first issue of the RHI SRH newsletter for adolescents was produced and disseminated.