Our project

 

Through youth participatory action research, we aim to investigate:

  1. How adolescents’ experiences of sexual and reproductive services have been impacted by COVID-19 and;

  2. What are potential policy and program solutions to address and enhance adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights.

Youth researchers in this project are female identified, between the ages of 16-19, and are located in North, South West, and Central South Ontario. Over 5 months, youth researchers develop and conduct their own research projects that address sexual and reproductive health and rights issues that impact their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Each team of 4 youth researchers is supported by 3 adult research mentors.

  • Youth Participation

    The project will take place virtually for approximately 5 months and will include:

    • Five-day research skills training with experienced researchers

    • High level youth involvement with support from mentors

    • Opportunity for youth to share results with their communities

    • Youth researchers are compensated through a stipend

The Process - Youth Participatory Action Research

  • Paid training with experienced researchers

    A five-day virtual training will be conducted during which youth will be trained in critical thinking, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights, research skills for quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, and research ethics.

  • Identifying key issues in the community

    Each youth research team will be supported throughout the project by research mentors from the adult study team. Youth-led research teams will begin by identifying ASRHR priorities in their communities.

  • Data collection, analysis and interpretation

    Each youth research team will decide on an appropriate research method to collect data relevant to the issue they have identified.  Youth teams will be introduced to different data collection approaches during the 5-day training.

  • Developing solutions and sharing results with the community

    Youth researchers will develop potential solutions to address the results of their research project. Youth researchers will share key findings and collaborate with the project team on generating youth-led solutions for interventions.