KHPT organized a Research Day event titled ‘Perspectives on Strengthening Adolescent Health Programming’ on October 12, at the KHPT head office, during which the latest findings from research conducted by the Adolescent Health team were presented to an expert panel and the KHPT teams to facilitate feedback and cross-learning.

The Research Day was chaired by Dr. M K Sudarshan, KHPT Trustee and Chairman, Karnataka Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee, Government of Karnataka (GoK), and the expert panel was comprised of Dr Veena, Deputy Director – Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram,  Dr Edmond Fernandes, Director, Edward & Cynthia Institute of Public Health, Mangalore,  and Dr Balu PS,  Director, Centre for Digital Health, Artificial Intelligence, Research and Training, Basaveshwara Medical College, Chitradurga.

The team presented findings from three studies, including an innovative approach of mapping vulnerabilities among adolescent girls using a historical and political economy lens to help contextualize health outcomes, and the nutrition status of adolescent girls in the northern Kalyana Karnataka region. A study on empowerment and its importance in the adolescent context showed the associations between empowerment and access to health services, education, protection and participation in social networks, demonstrating the multidimensionality of empowerment among adolescent girls

The expert panel provided feedback, insights and suggestions. Dr Edmond Fernandes talked about the importance of building linkages between research and policy, and amplifying KHPT’s research findings among key stakeholders. Dr Veena spoke about the need for convergence at block, district and state level to raise awareness about adolescent health in the community, especially among parents, for each girl to have a quality life.

Research Day concluded with a round of questions and discussions from KHPT teams at the office and across the country who had logged in remotely to learn and share their insights.