EFFECTIVENESS OF ROLE OF ADOLESCENT FRIENDLY HEALTH COUNSELLOR (ANWESHA COUNSELLOR) IN CONTRIBUTING WELL-BEING OF ADOLESCENTS: A STUDY IN BIRBHUM DISTRICT OF WEST BENGAL

Abstract

The present study was conducted in Birbhum Health District and Rampurhat Health District under the jurisdiction of Birbhum District of West Bengal. The District has relatively very robust and extensive experience in providing adolescent friendly health services (AFHS) for adolescents both in rural and urban areas in some extend. The two Health District is now included under the RKSK Block/District. For conducting the research study both qualitative and quantitate data was collected from the sample respondents i.e. adolescents girls and boys in the age group of 10-19 years as per the programme of RKSK. There is also some data was collected from the AFHC Counsellor to know the perception and experiences of them about the AFHC. Out-reach programmes were conducted to know the awareness about the AFHC in the community and utilization of services of AFHC by the adolescents. A regional level seminar was organized to know about the present research on adolescent It is found from the study that there is significant changes in the health and overall development aspects of the adolescents after being taking counselling services from the competent and trained AFHC Counsellor. There is significant changes in the information about health practices, knowledge, attitudes and belief among the adolescents and in the community especially in the RKSK Block (Earlier there was selected BPHC/RH was included under RKSK Block, now all AFHC located in BPHC/RH covered under the RKSK Block). In case of gender based counselling there is still preference for gender specific counsellor among the adolescents’ respondents in few clinics. They feel uncomfortable and hesitation to share their problems to the opposite gender counsellor specially about their menstruation and related health issues. The AFHC counsellor shared that they satisfied with the ice breaking attitudes of the community was achieved to least aware them about the existence of AFHC and a wide ranges of services are provide specially to the adolescents girls and boys in the age group of 10-19 years of age without any cost. There is a dedicated clinic named as Anwesha Clinic (AFHC) for the adolescents only. Peer Education is also an important component of the programme (RKSK) for giving training to the adolescent on health issues and formation of Teem Club with the adolescents including both male and female.