Table 2.

Main characteristics of the local context in the three explored cases

Los Barrios	Nueva Ciudad	Chambil
Small health centre (HC) in a marginalised area of a big city Started as women's HC: strong support from community and local NGO expert on gender and sexual and reproductive health Differentiated services for adolescents since 2002: one doctor attending during mornings Health promotion with schools No adolescents’ organisation at HC General practitioner (GP) in charge is well-sensitised and trained	Large HC, including some medical specialtiesAFS started in 2004 with support from an international NGO Currently there is an ‘adolescents’ zone’ with the medical office for ‘Growth and Development’ attended by a paediatricianAdolescents’ reproductive health is dealt with in the obstetric office, together with adult womenHC works with adolescents’ organisation and schools All members of staff have been trained and they incorporate the newcomers	Small HC in marginalised area of small city AFS started in 2005 with support from an international development project No differentiated services, but certain arrangements for facilitating access by adolescents HC works with adolescents’ organisation and schools All members of staff have been trained and they incorporate the new comers