Adolescent Health Club Discussion Guide and Booklet

"According to the 2019 Liberia DHS [Demographic and Health Survey], Liberia has a teenage pregnancy rate of 31%." 

This discussion guide and booklet for adolescent health education was developed by the Liberia Ministry of Health and partners, with support from Breakthrough ACTION. The two publications are intended for health club supervisors and peer educators to use in both communities and schools to educate young people aged 13-16 years on sexual and reproductive health. The curriculum intends to guide young people in making informed decisions as they grow into responsible and healthy adults who can meaningfully contribute to Liberia's growth and development.

The publications form part of a wider adolescent health campaign being conducted by the Ministry of Health (MOH) in collaboration with Breakthrough ACTION Liberia to improve the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents. Building on the success of adolescent clubs established to improve young Liberians' reproductive health knowledge and self-efficacy, Breakthrough ACTION worked closely with local schools, county health teams, and county offices across the country to establish school health clubs and to train teachers and peer mentors to facilitate club meetings and mentor club members. The school health clubs, supported by the two publications, are meant to provide students in grades 7-9 with a safe space to learn and discuss health topics like teenage pregnancy, menstrual hygiene, family planning, self-esteem, confidence, and goal setting. The curriculum, which was developed by Breakthrough ACTION with the MOH and the Ministry of Education, is also meant to help learners develop leadership skills, teamwork, and a sense of responsibility toward improving their health.

The discussion guide is intended for use by club facilitators and peer educators to guide discussions, and the booklet is intended to be used during health club sessions to increase adolescents' knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and support group sessions. They cover the same lesson topics, which are as follows:
Lesson 1: Goal Setting
Lesson 2: Self-Esteem and Confidence 
Lesson 3: Peer Pressure
Lesson 4: Understanding Healthy Relationships
Lesson 5: Body Changes, Puberty, and Menstruation
Lesson 6: Having Sex Before You're Ready 
Lesson 7: Teenage Pregnancy 
Lesson 8: The Importance of Modern Contraception and Family Planning
Lesson 9: Preventing STIs [sexually transmitted infections] and HIV
Lesson 10: Substance Abuse
Lesson 11: Parent-Child Communication
Lesson 12: Nutrition and Healthy Eating
Lesson 13: Malaria