Codeveloping an Adolescent Health Program in India During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of a...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Organizational Development

Background:

• Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) like Adolescent Health Champions (AHC) in Mumbai, India, deliver peer education to adolescents (13-19 years) to enhance gender equality and health outcomes.
• The COVID-19 pandemic presented significant challenges, including school closures and negative impacts on adolescent physical and mental health, necessitating adaptive strategies for NGOs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the experience of implementing the responsive feedback (RF) approach within AHC during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• To evaluate the impact of the RF approach on AHC's organizational structure, intervention delivery, and overall effectiveness in serving adolescents.

Main Methods:

• The study details AHC's application of the RF approach, involving informal stakeholder consultations and formalization through a youth advisory board.
• Key steps included understanding adolescent challenges, revising the theory of change, piloting new delivery modes, and developing resources like a parent curriculum and mobile app.

Main Results:

• The RF approach facilitated AHC's understanding of pandemic-specific adolescent challenges and enabled adaptation of its interventions.
• Significant organizational changes occurred, including an overhauled theory of change, new delivery methods, curriculum development, a mobile app, a name change, and enhanced organizational agility.
• The RF approach positively impacted organizational culture, stakeholder engagement, and innovation, contributing to AHC's growth and pandemic response.

Conclusions:

• The RF approach proved instrumental for AHC's successful adaptation and growth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Key learnings and strategies for overcoming challenges like resource constraints are discussed, offering valuable insights for other youth-serving organizations.
• The study highlights the importance of agile and responsive strategies for NGOs working with adolescents in dynamic environments.