Document Type
Brief
Publication Date
2007
Abstract
Numerous reproductive health programs sponsor youth centers, which provide recreation and job-skills training as a means of attracting young people to seek reproductive health services or information. However, the productivity, cost, and cost-effectiveness of this approach are not clearly documented. In 2000, FRONTIERS conducted a cost analysis as part of a larger study on the effectiveness of three different youth center models in South Africa. The study focused on 8 of the 12 centers included in the larger study, chosen to be representative of each model. All the selected centers offered clinical services, seven also offered reproductive health information or life-skills training, and three also offered vocational and recreational services. The cost study examined the total costs for each center, as well as the cost of both a clinic visit and a reproductive health visit. As reported in this brief, the youth center model is a costly way of attracting young people to seek reproductive health information and services. Managers should identify their goals in providing multipurpose youth centers and identify the best models relative to these goals.
Recommended Citation
"South Africa: Youth centers: A costly way to provide reproductive health services," FRONTIERS OR Summary no. 66. Washington, DC: Population Council, 2007.
DOI
10.31899/rh14.1077
Language
English
Project
Frontiers in Reproductive Health
Included in
Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, International Public Health Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons, Medicine and Health Commons