1. Introduction:
Youth constitutes of almost 33% of the total population of Nepal
(NDHS, 2011). Unmet need for family planning remains high
among youth. There is poor communication among youth when
it comes to discuss about sexual health. The unmet need for
spacing is higher among younger women compared with older
women, this result in a high prevalence of unintended pregnancy.
Use of Social Media:
Engaging youth to discuss SRH issues
Authors • Shreejana Bajracharya • Nilima Raut • Satyajit Pradhan
MSI
volunteers
People posing as
Rocketa & Rocketi
during World Aids
Day 2015 event
of youth have
access to
mobile phone
have access
to internet.
96% 34%
(MSI, 2015)
Objectives:
The objective is to establish an
interactive platform where sex
can be demystified and safe
sex promoted among youth.
Methods:
Rockets & Space Facebook
page is a youth-centric Marie
Stopes Nepal’s initiative. To
engage youth in social media
like FACEBOOK, “ROCKETS
& SPACE” page was created
in March 2014. The page
receives approximately on
average of 5 messages every
week from youth regarding
their Sexual Reproductive
Health issues and queries. The
messages are replied instantly
and referred to our service
centres and helpline. The youth
engagement in the Rockets
& Space Facebook page is
measured through the page
likes, page engagement, post
likes, post reach, shares and
comments.
likes on the
ROCKETS
& SPACE
facebook
page between
March 2014
and January
2016.
60000+
new likes on
the facebook
page every
week
2000+
response rate
100%
weekly post
reach and
4500+ post
engagement
33,762+
caller from
the page on
monthly basis
20%
Future Directions:
It is observed that youths are
engaged in our page. This has
provided important insight on
effectiveness of social media
to communicate on SRH to
youth. These observations
and insight report of page
have encouraged developing
youth friendly messages for
youth on SRH. It has motivated
youth to visit our youth friendly
services centres. Social media
is important for youth friendly
communication on SRH for
behavior change.
References
Ministry of Health and
Population (Nepal), New ERA,
ICF International Inc. (2012).
Nepal Demographic and Health
Survey 2011. Kathmandu,
Nepal , Ministry of Health and
Population, New ERA, And
ICF International, Calverton,
Maryland.
Marie Stopes International
(MSI) (2015) Helping Marie
Stopes International to increase
CYPs via more effective
and successful insight led
marketing; Interim qualitative
Report, Nepal.
“It was found that 87% of
youth are interested to
get information through
Helpline on Family
Planning”
(MSI,2015)
Results:
Frequently asked questions in the page are related to adolescent bodily
changes such as penis size, breast size, wet dreams, menstruation,
masturbation, etc.
The page created an event on World Contraceptive Day on 26th
September 2015. This had encouraged youth to brainstorm about
importance of contraceptive and post their photo with the message. We
received nearly 50 entries for the event.
Sunaulo Parivar Nepal, implementing partner of Marie Stopes International