B-wise
B-wise
B-wise aims to become the most trusted, personalised and engaging source of SRHR health information for adolescents and youth in South Africa.
- People living with HIV,
- Young people,
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Stepped Care Model for Sexual Health
Having the right information and service in the right place, at the right time delivered by the right digital solution or person to meet the specific needs of young people. That is what Stepped Care is about.
The innovative and holistic sexual and reproductive health self-care model created by our organisation – with over 10 years of success in the Netherlands, has expanded to South Africa, Kenya, Mozambique and Indonesia.
What is Stepped Care?
The Stepped Care model for sexual and reproductive health is a youth-centered approach that is responsive to the needs of young people, at the lowest possible cost.
The digital health ecosystem facilitates collaboration among stakeholders and organises online and offline SRHR services in a meaningful way for young people. Services that are non-judgmental, to help them access the right services and information, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity or disability.
How does it work?
Stepped Care encourages all stakeholders in the field of sexual and reproductive health for young people to coordinate their efforts. A unified branding guides individuals to a web-based platform that provides quality and engaging comprehensive SRHR information. From this point, self-assessments refer to additional online and offline services according to the individual’s needs. As moving through a care-seeking journey, the individual is referred to higher steps of the model that incorporate human contact through chat services, hotlines and eventually face-to-face services with healthcare professionals as needed. The lower the step of the model, the higher the reach and self-care, and the lower the cost of services.
Stepped care guidelines for implementation
This document provides an overview of experiences, lessons and challenges in implementing the Stepped Care Model. The guidelines are meant for implementers, researchers, policy-makers and donors to reduce fragmentation, stimulate cooperation between health providers and support young people to lead healthy sexual and reproductive lives.
Guidelines Stepped Care
Why a stepped care model?
Social norms around sexuality and limited availability of youth-friendly services, withhold access to information and fuels the fear of stigma and discrimination.
Besides, everybody has different kinds of information needs when it comes to sexual and reproductive health. Some may be helped by reading a self-help online article. Others could benefit from a phone-call with a peer-support group. Still others may have a physical examination from a licensed doctor. Therefore, different services need to be provided, aligned with the level of complexity and level of self-care possible.
"Stepped Care has potential to expand provision of good quality HIV prevention and care more widely into areas of public health care, SRH and HIV services"
WHO
Technical expert
8 ways how Stepped Care is changing the game
- Increases access to youth-friendly comprehensive sexuality education
- Increases uptake of self-care products and health services
- Empowers young people by building self-efficacy, health literacy and self-care
- Lowers burden on the healthcare system and reduces cost
- More efficient use of healthcare services and resources
- Facilitates integration of digital health solutions into formal health systems
- Decreases fragmentation of youth programs and digital solutions
- Increases collaboration among donors, government, private, multi-lateral and international organisations and implementers
Built on over 10 years of experience in the Netherlands
Aidsfonds – Soa Aids Nederland together with the Netherlands National Institute for Public Health and Environment, have successfully built up the Stepped Care Model in the Netherlands. The youth-brand Sense supports 3,9 million young people in the Netherlands annually. Building upon more than 10 years of experience, Aidsfonds has taken the initiative to scale the model internationally.
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70+ organisations call on greater EU leadership in HIV/AIDS
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