Strengthening Environment and Motivation Project (SEAMLess) Rapid Assessment Report

Save the Children (Malawi) is collaborating with the Ministry of Health to implement Strengthening Environment and Motivation( SEAMLess) Project with a goal to address sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges that affect adolescents and young people in Zomba district. Among challenges include misinformation, misperceptions,stigma (including related to cultural beliefs and traditions) and associated barriers and lack of demand for SRH services. Negative perceptions towards adolescents seeking SRH services among health service providers, as well as lack of relevant skills and long distances to health facilities also serve to deter uptake. Project SEAMLess is based on rigorously tested behavioral science insights and seeks to promote the well-being of adolescents by achieving increased awareness of, trust in, and uptake of SRH services. Project SEAMLess will collaborate with the Zomba district council to train healthcare services providers on youth-friendly and age-appropriate service delivery, link service providers to youth clubs as patrons and matrons who will provide leadership and stewardship to increase service uptake and facilitate SRH education both at facility- and community-level. Save the Children conducted a rapid assessment to collect benchmarks for project before the full implementation.