The problems related to the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents, currently deserve special attention in Armenia, and are identified as priority areas for public health intervention. During the last five years, considerable experience has been gained in the country, on how government policies and programs can be designed and implemented to address sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents. In fact, in the Soviet period and the years following after Armenia’s independence, sexuality education has been largely ignored for young people. Sexuality education as a subject is not incorporated into the school curriculum yet, and no related teacher-training syllabus exists.

Traditional support mechanisms such as parents and other adults in the family and community are unable to effectively support young people in this rapidly changing environment. In addition, professionals in the fields of health, education, social welfare, and related sectors to whom young people could turn for help, are rarely trained in matters of sexuality, sexual and reproductive health or in counseling young people. The main sources of information about sexuality and sexual health matters are peers and magazines.

Although it is widely accepted that there is an unmet need for sex education provision in schools, the progress in the public education system has been very small. Within the existing public health system, there are only few “youth-friendly” sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services in Armenia. Young people have very limited access to existing SRH services for adults mainly due to the cultural stigma associated with sexuality of adolescents, as well as financial constrains. As a result, a significant proportion of young people in Armenia is not equipped with good knowledge and skills to be able to make informed choices about their sexual and reproductive lives. Also, they are often unaware of the risks associated with unsafe sexual behavior.

Due to the lack of knowledge and limited access to sexual and reproductive health counseling and care, sexually active young people are at a greater risk of unwanted pregnancy, induced abortion, STIs/HIV, and the associated social and health consequences of these risks. According to reports of the Ministry of Health, number of pregnancies and STIs among adolescents has significantly increased over recent years. The lack of sexuality education and counseling is more risky for disadvantaged groups of adolescents, especially for those who are institutionalized, or living and /or working /or begging in the streets and are deprived of family environment.

The Ministry of Health of Armenia has identified three important challenges that need to be addressed in order to meet sexual and reproductive needs of young people:

The UNFPA supported project on “Improvement of Sexual and Reproductive Health of Women, Men and Young People” (2001-2004), which is currently being executed by the Ministry of Health of Armenia / Project Management Office and the Armenian NGO: “For Family and Health Association” (member of IPPF-EN) has the general goal of achieving better reproductive health for women, men, and young people. One of the purposes of this project is to improve access for young people to SRH information and services, including healthy life skills and sexuality education, voluntary counseling on abortion and STI, including HIV/AIDS. Also, early screening, diagnosis, treatment, and/or referral that would contribute towards responsible and safer personal behavior, reduction in unwanted pregnancies and abortion rates, and STI/HIV/AIDS prevention. To achieve the outcome objectives, the project involves adolescents and youth in program planning and implementation.

In 2001-2002, under umbrella of this project, “For Family and Health Association” (AFHA) conducted a Needs Assessment Survey on sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitude and practice among 900 young people and 900 adults in 30 communities of the project target areas, which was complemented with the case studies among 150 young people on impact of sex education on their sexual behaviour and health.

The report that follows is the outcome of these investigations. By applying social science research methods, researchers involved in this study have obtained scientifically sound, policy-relevant information on sexual and reproductive health needs and demands of adolescents. The information and views provided in this report lead to an invitation for governmental authorities, non-governmental organizations and international agencies to develop and implement reproductive health oriented projects that will benefit young people, focusing on the prevention, education and health care delivery.

The enthusiastic and committed efforts of the team of consultants, researchers, interviewers, computer specialists, and the editors made this report possible. The authors express their special gratitude to the following individuals, supported implementation of this survey:

Ms. Nora Melikyan, Vice-President, “For Family and Health” Association, who volunteered her time and efforts in editing assistance.

Ms. Narineh Gharashor Azizian, volunteer for “For Family and Health” association from Armenian Volunteer Corp, Child Development Specialist (USA), for her time and efforts in editing assistance.

Ms. Anna Hovhannisyan, Executive Director, “For Family and Health” Association, for organizational assistance and technical support.

Ms. Arshaluys Kirakosyan, Advocacy Officer, “For Family and Health” Association, for advocacy activities and coordination of the field works.

Ms. Lusine Simonyan, Programmer, Med-Info LTD, for consultancy in development of computer program, data processing, and analysis.

Dr. Jaklin Hakobyan, Physician, “For Family and Health” Association, for fieldwork activities.

Dr. Zakar Arakelyan, Physician, “For Family and Health” Association, for fieldwork activities.

Dr. Armenuhi Davidova, Physician, “For Family and Health” Association, for fieldwork activities.

Mr. Mikael Matevosian, Interviewer, “For Family and Health" Association, for fieldwork activities.

Ms. Lusine Harutiunyan, Manager of Youth Center, “For Family and Health” Association, for providing assistance in verification and checking the questionnaires, and data entry activities.

Ms. Maro Sargsyan, Administrative Assistant, “For Family and Health” Association, for providing assistance in verification and checking the questionnaires, and data entry activities.`

Ms. Anna Grigoryan, volunteer for “For Family and Health” Association, for providing assistance in verification and checking the questionnaires, and data entry activities.

Mr. Alexander Khachikyan, volunteer for “For Family and Health” Association, for his time and efforts in computer design.

Ms. Liana Simonyan, volunteer for “For Family and Health” Association, for her time and efforts in translating assistance.

Special thanks to the administrators and other staff-members of the targeted general and boarding schools, orphanages, colleges, universities/institutes and health facilities for their invaluable assistance in implementation of the field works. To all those, who lent their candid voices in the interest of improving of health and welfare of young people in Armenia, thank you indeed.