In collaboration with EQUIP Research and development consultants, CGPH-Pakistan is working on a health education program with the marginalized children of brick kiln workers in upper and south Punjab. This project focuses on health promotion and prevention, addressing determinants of health and to provide an effective and efficient way to address the main challenges of sub-optimal health among adolescents in Punjab, Pakistan. An intervention-based approach is used to develop a school health program to understand the dimensions of health issues among these under-privileged children. A program science approach is being used, which generates evidence and then use this evidence into development of positive practices through community involvement and leadership.

Partner: EQUIP Research and development consultants

A longitudinal study was conducted among university going girls (aged 18-24) in district Rawalpindi, Pakistan for a period of 2 years to access the impact of health education intervention.This joint research intervention of CGPH-Pakistan & Fatima Jinnah Women University (FJWU) provided an opportunity for the young women enrolled in a 4 Years graduation program at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Fatima Jinnah Women University to improve their health status. The project had a broader scope of encouraging the development of a “healthy institutional environment and culture” through developing awareness among young girls regarding personal health care, major aspects of health and well-being, primary health care, nutrition and issues related to reproductive health care. The project was an intervention-based study with embedded research, to generate evidence to develop a science-based approach that was used “to improve health and well-being of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) at FJWU through basic health protection and promotion of healthy behaviors and practices”. In the long run, this activity will develop a sustainable approach which could be incorporated in similar educational institutions in Pakistan to improve basic health and well-being of young females.

Partner: University of Manitoba, Canada & Fatima Jinnah Women University

The key results of the study were: Conducting a secondary analysis of the Round 5 HIV IBBS data and a sub-group analysis of adolescents (13 to 19 years) and young adults (20 to 24 years) which aimed to enhance understanding of how HIV risks and vulnerabilities differ with age within these key populations.

Funding Agency: UNICEF