Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Jagriti works to educate school-going adolescents and members of women’s self-help groups (SHGs) about sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancy. The program reached 300 villages in its first phase (2007-08) and is now working in 600 villages in 4 districts in Jharkhand to improve the reproductive health status of young people (15-30 years).

Jagriti largely depends on female Community Motivators (CMs), women who are usually permanent inhabitants of their villages that help ensure easy access and smooth functioning of the program because they are able to obtain the trust of women and adolescents with whom they work. In each village, 2 SHG members and 1 CM were sensitized and trained to work with unmarried adolescent boys and girls (15-19 years) and married couple (15-30 years). Jagriti uses a multi-purpose user card system to monitor the project. The CMs update these cards with information about women who are pregnant or using specific forms of contraceptives. This card contains all relevant information from conception to delivery with facts about children, birth space and contraceptives. Data from each village is being used as feedback for awareness levels and changes in attitude in the context of marriage, education, gender, reproductive health, HIV/AIDS and hygienic practices.