THE director general of the Planning Institute of Jamaica Dr Wesley Hughes says a lot more work must be done to change behaviour, in light of statistics that showed that 75 per cent of all pregnancies in the age group 15-24 were unplanned.

"It requires a lot of strategies having to do with the family, schools, churches, non-governmental organisation, and it is going to take time," the PIOJ boss said.

Hughes was addressing Monday night's review/launch of an exposition by stakeholders in a joint programme on sexual and reproductive health implemented by the Government through the National Family Planning Board, the European Union and the United Nations Population Development Fund (UNFPA).

The launch took place at the Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel in Kingston.

According to Hughes, programmes like that launched Monday night could be used to effect behavioural change.

"Over the years, this programme has specifically targeted adolescents with strategic intervention, to reduce pregnancies and transmission of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS," he said.

Beryl Weir, executive director of the Women Centre of Jamaica Foundation, in addressing the concern raised by Hughes, said the centre's strategy in dealing with unplanned first pregnancy was to work with schools and other NGOs to provide information to assist them in making right choices.

".We encourage them to use contraceptive as a means of preventing a second pregnancy, at least until they complete their secondary level education," she said.

In the meantime, she said that through the programme on sexual and reproductive health, her centre has been able to provide behavioural change material for the able bodied as well as the disabled male.

She told the Observer that the centre had also developed a resource guide and flip chart for guidance counsellors to use in schools.

"It contains all information to do with sexual and reproductive health, puberty, contraceptive and sexually transmitted infections and it also speaks to positive self- image and abstinence," she said.

Harold Robinson, the UNFPA representative, said that while he was encouraged by the progress being made in promoting behavioural change in sexual and reproductive health practices, more should be done in addressing some of the real challenges that hinder sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Robinson said this was particularly needed in improving maternal care to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity rates; addressing issues of masculinity in the context of sexual and reproductive health and rights and also improving access to information and services for under-served populations.

Meanwhile, Grace Duncan, executive director for the Jamaican Association on Mental Retardation said the joint programme will better assist in reaching mentally retarded (intellectually challenged) persons who have often been left out of issues related to sexual and reproductive health.

The programme, she said, was developed in such a way that mentally retarded children could learn through the use of comics and cartoon characters.

She told the launch that during a recent focus group some mentally retarded children were asked to disclose all that they know about sex and what they were practising.

"They were very articulate and said all that they knew, and it would blow your mind to hear what they are involved in," she said.

An electronic game called 'Master of Life' was designed to teach the disabled about the issues relating to puberty, sexually transmitted infections and sexual behaviour.

Neil Rhule, producer of the game, told the Observer that it created a fantasy environment for adolescents to learn about sexual reproductive health.

The hour-long game, which can be used for all members of the disabled community, will first be distributed in schools for the disabled.

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