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Chow DWS, Goi A, Salm MF, Kupewa J, Mollel G, Mninda Y, Ambonisye J, Malongo A, Ketang’enyi E, Sanga E, Ngowi H, William R, Msuya E, Mmbaga BT, Mpili A, Dow DE. Through the looking glass: empowering youth community advisory boards in Tanzania as a sustainable youth engagement model to inform policy and practice. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1348242. [PMID: 38476491 PMCID: PMC10927807 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1348242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
More young people are living in the world than ever before, 90% of whom reside in low and middle income countries (LMICs). To address their needs, it is critical to have sustainable youth engagement when determining policy and to advance effective implementation of youth-focused interventions. Youth Community Advisory Boards (CABs) are a sustainable mechanism to achieve this goal. This paper describes engagement with youth CAB members across four locations in Tanzania. To set youth CAB meeting agendas and priorities, we asked youth CAB members to write (using free text) the top five challenges faced by young people in their communities (highest to lower priority). The Google Forms survey link was presented at the May 2023 youth CAB meeting and disseminated through WhatsApp. The survey was completed by smartphone, tablet, or paper provided to the youth liaison for data entry. Results were translated from Swahili to English and coded using excel. Findings were then presented back to the youth CABs at the September 2023 meeting. At that meeting, youth CAB members were then asked to write (free text) potential solutions to the most commonly described challenges. The surveys had response rates of 90% (84/93) for challenges and 78% (71/93) for solutions. The number one reported challenge was unemployment and financial instability (45%). Gender based violence (13%), sexual reproductive health issues (8%), and alcohol and drug use (8%) were in the top four both by priority and frequency of report. Other important challenges included physical and mental health, malnutrition, relationships, education, and societal and environmental norms, among others. Solutions included job creation, improved education, expanded legal systems, youth-friendly health care services, and increased social support through peer networks and community support. The National Accelerated Action and Investment Agenda for Adolescent Health and Wellbeing (NAIA-AHW) 2021/22-2024/25 includes most, but not all, of these top challenges and solutions. Ensuring young people have a seat at the policy table is critical to effective youth-empowerment in health and other related programs. Including a youth CAB member to represent this collective in youth-related government activities is a sustainable model to achieve this goal.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Angelina Goi
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Maeve F. Salm
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Juma Kupewa
- Ifakara Health Institute Youth Community Advisory Board Liaison, Ifakara, Tanzania
| | | | - Yassin Mninda
- Mbeya Youth Community Advisory Board Liaison, Mbeya, Tanzania
| | | | - Alan Malongo
- Mwanza Youth Community Advisory Board Liaison, Mwanza, Tanzania
- Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Tanzania, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Eunice Ketang’enyi
- Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Tanzania, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Erica Sanga
- Mwanza Research Centre, National Institute of Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Happyness Ngowi
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center-Duke Collaboration, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Robert William
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center-Duke Collaboration, Moshi, Tanzania
- Moshi Youth Community Advisory Board Liaison, Moshi, Tanzania
| | | | - Blandina T. Mmbaga
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical University College, Moshi, Tanzania
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, United States
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center-Duke Collaboration, Moshi, Tanzania
- Kilimanjaro Clinical Research Institute, Moshi, Tanzania
| | - Amos Mpili
- Tanzania Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups, Coordinator NAIA-AHW, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Dorothy E. Dow
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, NC, United States
- Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Center-Duke Collaboration, Moshi, Tanzania
- Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
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Iversen SA, Nalugya J, Babirye JN, Engebretsen IMS, Skokauskas N. Child and adolescent mental health services in Uganda. Int J Ment Health Syst 2021; 15:66. [PMID: 34344441 PMCID: PMC8336399 DOI: 10.1186/s13033-021-00491-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Worldwide, one in five children and adolescents suffer from mental health disorders, while facing limited opportunities for treatment and recovery. Growing up, they face multiple challenges that might contribute to the development of mental disorders. Uganda is a developing country with a history of prolonged civil and regional wars associated with child soldiers, large numbers of refugees and internally displaced people due to natural disasters and unrests, and a large infectious disease burden mainly due to acute respiratory tract infections, malaria and HIV/AIDS. OBJECTIVE This paper aims to examine the current status of child and adolescent mental health services in Uganda. METHODOLOGY A scoping review approach was used to select studies on child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) in Uganda. A search of MEDLINE, Wiley and PubMed databases was conducted using eligibility criteria. The papers were summarized in tables and then synthesized using the Frameworks for monitoring health systems performance designed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This was done according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and M-Analyses Extension for Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) guidelines. RESULTS Twelve studies were identified; five of them used qualitative methods and focused mostly on the current limitations and strengths of CAMHS in Uganda, while six quantitative studies investigated the effects of new interventions. One study used a mixed-methods approach. In summary, the papers outlined a need for collaboration with the primary health sector and traditional healers to ensure additional human resources, as well as the need to focus on groups such as orphans, HIV/AIDS-affected youth, former child soldiers and refugees. CONCLUSION Relatively few studies have been conducted on CAMHS in Uganda, and most of those that exist are part of larger studies involving multiple countries. CAMHS in Uganda require improvement and needs to focus especially on vulnerable groups such as orphans, HIV/AIDS-affected youth and former child soldiers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joyce Nalugya
- Department of Psychiatry, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | | | - Norbert Skokauskas
- Regional Knowledge Center for Children and Adolescents - Mental Health and Child Welfare, IPH; NTNU, FMH, Trondheim, Norway.
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