Smile!

In the Republic of Georgia, youth lack access to confidential, youth-friendly reproductive health services and information due to conservative Orthodox beliefs. The highest abortion rates in the world and increasing incidence of HIV/AIDS have brought leaders to see the need for improved reproductive health services.

Part of the larger USAID-funded Health Women of Georgia project, youth-friendly pharmacies were created by Save the Children to respond specifically to the needs of young people. These pharmacies staff specially trained pharmacists who provide reproductive health information in a sensitive, welcoming way that meets youth’s needs and also offer youth friendly corners with take-home materials.

A recent evaluation of the youth friendly versus other pharmacies using youth mystery shoppers found that the shoppers preferred the youth friendly pharmacies… especially since the pharmacists there were certain to do what youth in the Imereti Region feel is most important when they are searching for reproductive health information and services… SMILE!

Angela Bayer, MHS, PhD ‘08, recently completed her PhD in Population, Family and Reproductive Health at JHSPH.