J.N.C. Sescon, P.J. Rada, G. Padua
Remedios AIDS Foundation, Manila, Philippines

Youth Zone Internet Chat Counseling:
Learnings Gained in Integrating Internet Communication Technology (ICT) with Adolescent Health Concerns

ISSUES:

With the advent of the advances of computer technology, services need to be packaged in a very innovative manner so as to sustain sexual health promotion campaigns. Health and development issues are now commonly discussed using emailgroups, listservers, website hosting. Amore dynamic and interactive technology is utilized using free softwares lime mIRC and pIRCH as medium of exchange.

METHODOLOGY:

The Youth zone is a shopping mall based youth center providing various adolescent health information and direct services to youth ages 10-24 years old. The project provide access to the youth practicing high risk behavior and are at risk in contracting STI along with HIV/AIDS. Part of the project is the internet chat counseling service which has been running for two years and a half. For 2000, over 3,000 chat counseling sessions were conducted with the average of 15-20 regular active chatters daily. The #youthzone chatroom is operated by a Channel operator trained in handling various adolescent health issues as well as basic internet computer skills. The #youthzone chatroom has served as an avenue in discussing sensitive issues. Topics discussed ranged from relationships (boy-girl, parent-child, same sex, reproductive health issues such as - teenage pregnancy, abortion, family planning methods, self-esteem, self-confidence and more. The youthzone chatroom has at all times rendered confidentiality and anonymity among chatters. Should young adults in need of specific medical concerns, appropriate referral system is being done.

CONCLUSION:

Running innovative strategies such as shopping mall based youth center and internet chat counseling sessions proved to be effective in reaching young adults in discussing these issues. Much learning from these initiatives is worth sharing to other countries in need to demonstrate new approaches or modalities in changing behavior.

Presenting author: Jose Narciso Melchor Sescon, 1066 Remedios Street Malate 1004, Manila, Philippines Tel.: +(632) 524-0924, Fax +(632) 522-3431, Email: josescon@pacific.net.ph