Adolescents

Economic growth and trade liberalization can transform the institution of marriage by increasing employment opportunities for women. Marriage, especially early marriage of adolescent girls, may become less economically essential as young women become financially independent. The case studies presented in this paper show, culture mediates the impact of economic change on marriage differently in different contexts, thus prohibiting any generalizations about trade liberalization and marriage. As countries implement liberal trade policies, or otherwise alter these regimes, it is crucial that scholars, activists and policymakers are aware of the potential divergent socioeconomic effects that could result, both those intended and unintended.

Millions of young girls in the developing world are married when they are still children, and as a result are denied the ordinary experiences that young people elsewhere take for granted: schooling, good health, economic opportunities, and friendship with peers. Despite national laws and international agreements forbidding child marriage, gender roles and marriage systems in many countries dictate the practice, through which girls are deprived of basic rights and subjected to discrimination and health risks. This position paper outlines the causes and consequences of child marriage, as well as policy and programmatic responses to early marriage.

Child marriage undermines current U.S. development efforts in health, nutrition and education programs. This brief offers recommendations of how U.S. policy can end this harmful practice.

ICRW evaluated the effectiveness of an intergenerational approach - when youth and adult participants work together to enhance positive adolescent development - to support efforts to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, promote girls' education and improve child protection. In this brief, ICRW provides direction for integrating this approach in programmatic efforts.

This brief outlines the major challenges facing youth and highlights policy and program recommendations in the key issue areas of education and training, economic opportunities, and health and sexuality.

This brief assesses progress toward Millennium Development Goal 3, promote gender equality and empower women, by analyzing changes in the 12 indicators proposed by the U.N. Millennium Project Task Force on Education and Gender Equality and offers recommendations that can redouble global efforts to fulfill this worthy goal.

ICRW conducted an analysis of programs in developing countries as well as a field-based assessment of selected programs in three countries: India, Kenya, and Colombia that integrate adolescent reproductive health and livelihoods concerns, with a view to offering recommendations for more effective strategies and approaches. This brief aims to assess the challenges and potential effectiveness of integrated programs, highlight innovative approaches, and define gaps that exist in designing interventions.

ICRW undertook an 18-month analysis of programs that link adolescent reproductive health and livelihoods to assess the challenges and effectiveness of such programs, highlight innovative approaches and define gaps that exist in designing interventions. The resulting analysis provides a clear understanding of whether linked interventions have potential for effectively improving the lives of youth.

The Knot Ready study was conducted in India from 2005 through 2008. ICRW researchers analyzed child marriage trends in the sub-continent over the past 15 years and assessed the effectiveness of programs and policies aimed at delaying marriage.

Decision makers want to know which strategies are most cost-effective for improving adolescent reproductive health and what resources are required to implement or scale up successful programs. Yet little is known about these programs' costs, and few researchers are building cost-analysis into their program designs. This report summarizes the results of a multi-partner study of youth reproductive health interventions in rural and urban areas of India from 1996 to 2006. The research program demonstrated that it is possible to create effective programs to improve adolescents' health in a relatively short time. This report draws on lessons learned on how to strengthen community and government efforts to improve youth reproductive and sexual health.

An accompanying briefing kit provides short summaries of specific projects and outcomes.

Download the briefing kit by section:

Reproductive Health: Evidence from Three Adolescent Reproductive Health Programs in India
Understanding Costs to Improve Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health: Results from a Study in Rural Maharashtra, India
Understanding Costs to Improve Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health: Results from a Study in Rural Tamil Nadu
Understanding Costs to Improve Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health: Evidence on Replicating a Tested Model in Delhi, India
Influence of Men and Boys on Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health: Lessons from Intervention Studies in India
Influence of Men and Boys on Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health: Husbands' Involvement in Maternal Care in Rural Maharashtra, India
Community Mobilization and Youth Reproductive and Sexual Health: Findings from Intervention Studies in India
Addressing Gender-Based Constraints in Youth Reproductive Health: Findings from Intervention Studies in India
Addressing Gender-Based Constraints in Youth Reproductive Health: Experiences and Behaviors about Infertility among Young Couples in Rural Maharashtra, India
Delaying Age at Marriage in Rural Maharashtra, India
Reducing Anemia and Changing Dietary Behaviors among Adolescent Girls in Maharashtra, India
Building Life Skills to Improve Adolescent Girls' Reproductive and Sexual health, Tigri, Delhi
Replicating an Adolescent Girls' Reproductive and Sexual Health Program in Naglamachi, Delhi
Reproductive and Sexual Health Education, Care and Counseling for Married Adolescents in Rural Maharashtra, India
Reducing Reproductive Tract Infections among Married Youth in Rural Tamil Nadu, India
Role of Mothers-in-Law in Young Women's Reproductive Health: Evidence from Intervention Research in Rural Maharashtra, India
Social Mobilization or Government Services: What Influences Married Adolescents' Reproductive Health in Rural Maharashtra, India?

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