As announced, social audits were conducted in Senegal and Burkina Faso. Implemented since March 2020, the Jeunes en Vigie project has enabled the project's auditors to gain first-hand experience of the constraints faced by young people and adolescents in accessing quality healthcare tailored to their needs. The audits also provided an opportunity for them to raise awareness among healthcare providers about young people's rights in terms of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and the three pandemics (HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria).
From May to July 2022, in the districts of Matam and Mbour (Senegal) as well as Koupéla, Réo, Koudougou, and Tenkodogo (Burkina Faso), 90 young female listeners (15 per district) from the Jeunes en vigie project were trained and supported by the consortium organizations: JED in Senegal and SOS JD and Burcaso in Burkina Faso. They collected data on access to SRH/FP care and three pandemics for adolescents and young people from health providers and young people in the communities.
The purpose of these social audits was to identify the real needs of young people in terms of SRH/FP and the three pandemics in order tochallenge the relevant authorities to ensure access to and quality of services offered to adolescents and young people. The social audit is an approachthat approach that engages auditors in a process of request for accountability.
According to Babacar, focal point in Matam, Senegal: “I was fascinated by the listeners’ ability to adapt and their leadership; they developed skills that greatly facilitated data collection.”
Leading each stage, the auditors, supported by by focal points and consultants, have in each district:
- Translate questionnaires into different languages to facilitate understanding by respondents.
- Presented the audit to the authorities and/or chief medical officers of the health districts, enabling appointments to be made with healthcare providers.
- Captured and recorded responses to questionnaires for service providers and young people on their smartphones
- Organized and facilitated mixed and single-gender focus groups in their locality.
According to Martine, focal point in Mbour: "the audit enabled me to realize the shortcomings of the health system in my district and the lack of communication between young people and health providers, as well as the very low level of knowledge and attendance at health facilities."
The results of the social audits will be published and reported on starting in December 2022. The year 2023 will be dedicated to phase 2 of the project, i.e., social and political mobilization actions in the six districts to challenge public authorities on the difficulties of accessing care and information on SRH/FP and three pandemics affecting young people and adolescents.
