Collaboration between a child telephone helpline and sexual and reproductive health and rights organisations in Senegal: lessons learned

• Published in: Sex education Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 32 - 46
• Main Authors: Flink, Ilse Johanna Elisabeth, Mbaye, Solange Marie Odile, Diouf, Simon Richard Baye, Baumgartner, Sophie, Okur, Pinar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 02.01.2018; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Accuracy; Administrator Attitudes; Age Differences; Children; Civil Rights; Collaboration; Confidentiality; Cooperation; Counseling Services; counselling; Cultural Awareness; education; Empathy; Employee Attitudes; Foreign Countries; Gender Differences; Guides; Health Services; Help Seeking; Information Sources; Interviews; Mixed Methods Research; Program Development; Referral; Reproductive health; Senegal; Sexuality; SRHR; Telecommunications; telephone helpline; Vignettes; Young Adults; young people; Senegal (Dakar); Senegal
• ISSN: 1468-1811; 1472-0825
• DOI: 10.1080/14681811.2017.1376276

This study identifies lessons learned from a collaboration between a child telephone helpline and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) organisations in Senegal established in the context of an SRHR programme for young people. We assessed how helpline operators are equipped to address sexual health and rights issues with young people, what the relevant skills of operators are, and to what extent referral to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service providers took place. A documentary review, a vignette study and interviews with six key informants and all seven operators took place. The collaboration led to promising initiatives, such as the provision of SRH training, the exchange of staff, referral to SRH service providers. However, the counselling advice provided by operators was not always in line with the rights-based approach and responses were influenced by underlying norms concerning young people's sexuality. Additionally, concerns about confidentiality were noted. The collaboration was an innovative attempt to respond to young people's limited access to SRHR information and services but there is a need for more in-depth training of helpline operator's skills and the development of a standardised rights-based counselling manual.