Background/Objectives
Many adolescents intend to avoid and delay pregnancy but lack the knowledge and resources to
make decisions regarding their reproductive health. At the global, national and subnational
levels, efforts are made to ensure that data gaps in Family Planning and adolescents are closed.
Although progress has been slow, existing data should be analyzed, interpreted, and presented in
a simplified format that can support decisions.
In 2021, Stand With A Girl (SWAG) Initiative implemented the Data Made Simple in 5 states in
Nigeria, namely: Niger, Taraba, Edo, Ogun and Plateau. The project focused on promoting
meaningful youth participation in data for decision making on family planning.The data was
interpreted and simplified objectively in a storybook by using infographics. It was translated into
indigenous languages to engage subnational policy makers, community gatekeepers, community
members, adolescent and development partners etc.
Method/Material
❖ Adolescent and Youth Sexual & Reproductive Health (AYSRH) data from the National
Health Management Information System and Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey
(2018) was collated and analyzed for each State.
❖ These data storybooks were disseminated to decision makers and community members to
improve access to AYSRH information and services as well as policy decisions.
Results
❖ 60 Youth Data Advocates, Adolescent Health Desk Officers, and M&E officers have
strengthened capacity on Adolescent Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health data-driven
programming and data use for decision-making.
❖ Over 100 Decision makers engaged in effective implementation of Nigeria's National.
❖ Adolescent Health Policy using data storybooks to increase adolescents' access to family
planning information.
Conclusion
Data, evidence and innovations are critical for effective policy implementation. With the level of
successes in the project and commitment by the decision makers in the aforementioned states,
SWAG Initiative scaled up the Data Made Simple project in 7 additional States in Nigeria.
