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Kawuma R, Tumwesige E, Asiimwe A, Bernays S, Seeley J. Gendered risks: access to and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services among young migrants in Southwestern Uganda: the role of the 'lending a hand' intervention. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2024; 6:1256485. [PMID: 38770113 PMCID: PMC11102986 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2024.1256485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Young migrants may engage in risky behaviours due to social, economic, and psychological challenges as they try to "get by" in their new host communities. This can result in unintended pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections including HIV, and poor mental health outcomes.During a study to test the feasibility and acceptability of an early intervention to reduce the harm of patterns of risk associated with migration, we assessed access to and utilization of sexual and reproductive health services (SRH) among recent migrants (14-24 years) in south-western Uganda. Methods The intervention conducted in 2022/23 involved training peer supporters to provide referral advice and support to young people. Between March-November 2022, 20 young migrants (11 males and 9 females) were purposively selected to participate in two in-depth interviews each to explore their experiences during the intervention. Data were analysed thematically. Results Women engaged in transactional sex to supplement their low pay while men got involved in risky behaviour once they had earned some money. Many suffered from sexually transmitted infections-related symptoms, were at risk for HIV infection and some women had fears of unwanted pregnancy. While some tried to seek for SRH services from public facilities, poor health service delivery such as long queues and shortages of drugs, discouraged them from going there. Young people tried to access treatment from private facilities but could not afford the costs. The intervention increased knowledge about SRH and supported young people to access services from the public health facilities at no cost thus increasing utilization. Conclusion Sexual health risks were experienced differently by women and men. The women were likely to experience symptoms related to sexually transmitted infections (including HIV) much earlier than men and this could increase their likelihood to engage with SRH services. The intervention served to increase men's readiness to access SRH services by providing them at a time and place that is convenient. Recognizing the different risk profiles of young people is important in tailoring appropriate interventions to promote equitable access and utilization of SRH services for both genders in this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Kawuma
- MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Department of Social Sciences, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Edward Tumwesige
- MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Department of Social Sciences, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Allen Asiimwe
- MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Department of Social Sciences, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Sarah Bernays
- School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Janet Seeley
- MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Department of Social Sciences, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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Tumwesige E, Asiimwe A, Kawuma R, Bernays S, Seeley J. Young migrant men managing risk and seeking protection in a small town in Southern Uganda. J Migr Health 2023; 8:100191. [PMID: 37440919 PMCID: PMC10333604 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmh.2023.100191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Revised: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Young migrants in resource-constrained settings face multiple challenges when they move away from home for work and try to make their way in a new place. In Uganda, with a growing youthful population increasing numbers of young people are leaving home to look for opportunities in urban areas, often facing a precarious existence as they try to make money. Using data from in-depth interviews we investigate the lived experience of precarity of 20 young men who had recently migrated to a small town in south-west Uganda. We adopt a case study approach to look in-depth at the experience of three of the young men, showing how they engage in a continual evaluation of risk in their day to day lives, as they face multiple challenges related to their insecure employment and poor access to health services. We found that the risks that the young men are willing to take to maximise their limited opportunities changed over time. Our findings provide valuable insights into the gendered risks faced by young male migrants and illustrate the ways in which young migrants, many of whom may only have travelled a relatively short distance from home, face risks and challenges to their health and wellbeing, and need to be recognised as a population in need of attention and support.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Allen Asiimwe
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Rachel Kawuma
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Sarah Bernays
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Janet Seeley
- MRC/UVRI and LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Sheira LA, Kwena ZA, Charlebois ED, Agot K, Ayieko B, Gandhi M, Bukusi EA, Thirumurthy H, Camlin CS. Testing a social network approach to promote HIV self-testing and linkage to care among fishermen at Lake Victoria: study protocol for the Owete cluster randomized controlled trial. Trials 2022; 23:463. [PMID: 35668499 PMCID: PMC9169331 DOI: 10.1186/s13063-022-06409-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nearly 50% of men living with HIV in many countries are unaware of their HIV status; men also have lower uptake of HIV treatment and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). In SSA, highly mobile men such as those working in fishing communities alongside Lake Victoria have low uptake of HIV testing and low rates of linkage to HIV treatment and PrEP, despite increasing availability of these services. HIV self-testing (HIVST) kits hold promise for overcoming barriers to HIV testing and linkage to services for HIV-positive and HIV-negative men. We describe here a protocol for an HIV status-neutral, social network-based approach to promote HIV testing, linkage to care and prevention, and better health outcomes, including adherence, in fishermen around Lake Victoria. METHODS Utilizing beach management unit (BMU) registries of fishermen operating in three Lake Victoria fishing communities in Siaya County, Kenya, we completed a census and social network mapping to identify close social networks of men. Network clusters identified by a socially-central lead ("promotor") and selected to ensure maximal separation between treatment and control will be randomized. Promotors in both arms will receive basic HIV training; intervention promotors are further trained in HIVST to distribute kits to their cluster, while control promotors will distribute to their cluster vouchers for free HIVST at nearby clinics. We will test whether these promoters can enhance linkage to ART and PrEP after self-testing, thereby addressing a key limitation of HIVST. We will also measure 6- and 12-month viral load in those living with HIV and PrEP adherence among those without HIV via urine tenofovir levels as objective markers of adherence. DISCUSSION This study has the potential to improve HIV health and promote HIV prevention among a hard to reach, at-risk, and highly mobile population of men in Western Kenya-a critical population in Kenya's HIV prevention and treatment program. Further, if successful, this innovative social networks-based model could be scaled at the regional level to address HIV prevention and care among similarly at-risk populations of men in eastern Africa and inland fisheries settings across the continent. TRIAL REGISTRATION Self-Test Strategies and Linkage Incentives to Improve ART and PrEP Uptake in Men, registered on February 26, 2021, registration # NCT04772469 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Lila A. Sheira
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Ave. Building 100, Ward 84, San Francisco, USA
| | - Zachary A. Kwena
- grid.33058.3d0000 0001 0155 5938Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Edwin D. Charlebois
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, USA
| | - Kawango Agot
- grid.434865.80000 0004 0605 3832Impact Research and Development Organization, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Benard Ayieko
- grid.434865.80000 0004 0605 3832Impact Research and Development Organization, Kisumu, Kenya
| | - Monica Gandhi
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 1001 Potrero Ave. Building 100, Ward 84, San Francisco, USA
| | - Elizabeth A. Bukusi
- grid.33058.3d0000 0001 0155 5938Centre for Microbiology Research, Kenya Medical Research institute, Nairobi, Kenya ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
| | - Harsha Thirumurthy
- grid.25879.310000 0004 1936 8972Department of Medical Ethics and Health Policy, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Carol S. Camlin
- grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, USA ,grid.266102.10000 0001 2297 6811Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, USA
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