1
|
Muluve E, Karp C, Osuka D, Nanjekho R, Mwanga D, Moreau C, Austrian K. Experiences of Pregnant and Parenting Adolescents and Young Women During COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Methods Study Among Girls and Women in Kenya. J Adolesc Health 2024; 75:S35-S42. [PMID: 39567057 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 11/22/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study examines the experiences of pregnant/parenting adolescents and young women during the first two years of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study leverages quantitative data collected among a cohort of adolescents and young people aged 15-22 years in three Kenyan counties; Nairobi, Kisumu, and Kilifi at three time points (2020, 2021, 2022), and two rounds of qualitative interviews in the same settings conducted in 2020 and 2022. RESULTS Among 2337 (2020), 1438 (2021), and 1669 (2022) respondents, pregnant/parenting adolescents and youth comprised 140 (6%), 101 (7%), and 83 (5%) individuals, respectively. Across the three time points, the experience of depressive symptoms was similar between pregnant/parenting adolescents and those not pregnant/parenting. Pregnancy and parenting was associated with twice the odds of skipping health services (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.18, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-3.35), in 2020, and 85% higher odds (aOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.14-3.02) in 2021, and 90% higher odds of skipping meals (aOR 1.90, 95% CI 1.19-3.03) in 2022. Qualitative findings indicated experiences of psychological distress, food insecurity, and inadequate access to health care services among pregnant/parenting young people during the pandemic. DISCUSSION The pandemic increased pre-existing challenges associated with adolescent and young people's health, predisposing young pregnant/parenting women to greater adversity than their nonpregnant/parenting counterparts. Targeted and responsive approaches during emergencies and crises such as social protection, food security, and mental health programs for this group of vulnerable people are required and need to be integrated into disaster response plans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Celia Karp
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | | | - Daniel Mwanga
- Data Science and Evaluations, African Population and Health Research Center, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Mathematics, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Caroline Moreau
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ali AK, Barua A, Mehta R, Chandra-Mouli V. Nimble adaptations to sexual and reproductive health service provision to adolescents and young people in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sex Reprod Health Matters 2024; 32:2372165. [PMID: 39046452 PMCID: PMC11271125 DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2024.2372165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging evidence showed that the provision and use of a range of health services, including sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, were affected. Otherwise, there was little evidence on whether and how they were adapted to maintain the access of different population groups, including adolescents. The study aims to provide an overview of adaptations to adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) services carried out during the early phases of the pandemic in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Human Reproduction Program (HRP) at the World Health Organization (WHO) called upon WHO and United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) regional offices to reach out to organisations that provided ASRH services to submit analytic case studies using a short-form survey. The study team charted information from 36 case studies and performed a content analysis. Results show that the adaptations covered a wide array of SRH services that were provided to a diverse group of adolescents. Most adaptations focused on SRH education and access to contraception in comparison to other SRH services. Over half of the case studies included mental health services, most of which were not provided before the pandemic. The adaptations varied between being face-to-face, remote, digital, and non-digital. Most adaptations complemented a pre-existing service and were nimble, feasible, and acceptable to the targeted adolescents. Lessons learned from this study could be extrapolated into other humanitarian settings and rapid responses for future public health emergencies, provided that rigorous evaluation takes place.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed K Ali
- Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Consultant, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research which includes the UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and World Bank cosponsored Human Reproduction Programme, Cairo, Egypt. Correspondence:
| | | | - Rajesh Mehta
- Formerly, Regional Adviser, Adolescent Health, WHO South East Asia Regional Office; Currently Independent Expert, New Delhi, India
| | - Venkatraman Chandra-Mouli
- Formerly, Scientist, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research which includes the UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO and World Bank cosponsored Human Reproduction Programme; Currently Independent Expert, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Popoola VO, Kagaayi J, Ssekasanvu J, Ssekubugu R, Kigozi G, Ndyanabo A, Nalugoda F, Chang LW, Lutalo T, Tobian AAR, Kabatesi D, Alamo S, Mills LA, Kigozi G, Wawer MJ, Santelli J, Gray RH, Reynolds SJ, Serwadda D, Lessler J, Grabowski MK. HIV epidemiologic trends among occupational groups in Rakai, Uganda: A population-based longitudinal study, 1999-2016. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0002891. [PMID: 38377078 PMCID: PMC10878534 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Certain occupations have been associated with heightened risk of HIV acquisition and spread in sub-Saharan Africa, including female bar and restaurant work and male transportation work. However, data on changes in population prevalence of HIV infection and HIV incidence within occupations following mass scale-up of African HIV treatment and prevention programs is very limited. We evaluated prospective data collected between 1999 and 2016 from the Rakai Community Cohort Study, a longitudinal population-based study of 15- to 49-year-old persons in Uganda. Adjusted prevalence risk ratios for overall, treated, and untreated, prevalent HIV infection, and incidence rate ratios for HIV incidence with 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Poisson regression to assess changes in HIV outcomes by occupation. Analyses were stratified by gender. There were 33,866 participants, including 19,113 (56%) women. Overall, HIV seroprevalence declined in most occupational subgroups among men, but increased or remained mostly stable among women. In contrast, prevalence of untreated HIV substantially declined between 1999 and 2016 in most occupations, irrespective of gender, including by 70% among men (12.3 to 4.2%; adjPRR = 0.30; 95%CI:0.23-0.41) and by 78% among women (14.7 to 4.0%; adjPRR = 0.22; 95%CI:0.18-0.27) working in agriculture, the most common self-reported primary occupation. Exceptions included men working in transportation. HIV incidence similarly declined in most occupations, but there were no reductions in incidence among female bar and restaurant workers, women working in local crafts, or men working in transportation. In summary, untreated HIV infection and HIV incidence have declined within most occupational groups in Uganda. However, women working in bars/restaurants and local crafts and men working in transportation continue to have a relatively high burden of untreated HIV and HIV incidence, and as such, should be considered priority populations for HIV programming.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor O. Popoola
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Joseph Kagaayi
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda
- Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Joseph Ssekasanvu
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | | | | | | | - Larry W. Chang
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Tom Lutalo
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Aaron A. R. Tobian
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Donna Kabatesi
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Uganda, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Stella Alamo
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Uganda, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Lisa A. Mills
- Division of Global HIV and TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Uganda, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Maria J. Wawer
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - John Santelli
- Department of Population and Family Health and Pediatrics, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Ronald H. Gray
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Steven J. Reynolds
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - David Serwadda
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda
- Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Justin Lessler
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Department of Epidemiology, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Carolina Population Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - M. Kate Grabowski
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
- Rakai Health Sciences Program, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Mutea L, Maluni J, Kabue M, Were V, Ontiri S, Michielsen K, Gichangi P. The effectiveness of combined approaches towards improving utilisation of adolescent sexual and reproductive health services in Kenya: a quasi-experimental evaluation. Sex Reprod Health Matters 2023; 31:2257073. [PMID: 37791876 PMCID: PMC10552573 DOI: 10.1080/26410397.2023.2257073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) services are key to improving the health of adolescents. This study aimed to establish the effectiveness of an intervention that combined activities in health facilities and communities in Kenya to increase utilisation of ASRH services. A quasi-experimental evaluation design was used to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. Using a stratified cluster sampling approach, two cross-sectional household surveys targeting girls aged 15-19 were conducted at baseline (September 2019) and endline (December 2020) in intervention and comparison. We combined the difference-in-difference approach to analyse the net change in outcomes between intervention and comparison arms of the study at baseline and endline and coarsened exact matching for variables that were significantly different to address the imbalance. There were a total of 1011 participants in the intervention arm and 880 in the comparison arm. Descriptive results showed a net increase of 12.7% in intervention sites in the knowledge of misconceptions about sex, pregnancy, and contraception, compared to 10.4% in the control site. In the multivariate regression analysis, two outcomes remained significant: decreases in adolescents' discomfort when seeking ASRH services because of either fear of parents (aPR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.42-0.79, P = 0.001) or a lack of support from their partner (aPR = 0.25, 95% CI = 0.08-0.82, P = 0.023). The intervention combining a facility and community approach was not effective in increasing the use of ASRH information and services. Possible reasons for this are explored.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lilian Mutea
- PhD Candidate, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium; Deputy Office Director, Health Population and Nutrition Office, USAID Kenya & East Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Mark Kabue
- Senior Monitoring, Evaluation, Research and Learning Adviser, Jhpiego USA, Baltimore MD, USA
| | - Vincent Were
- Data Analyst, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Susan Ontiri
- Monitoring and Evaluation Adviser, Jhpiego, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Kristien Michielsen
- Associate Professor, International Centre for Reproductive Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Peter Gichangi
- Full Professor, Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya; Visiting Professor, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Meherali S, Rehmani AI, Ahmad M, Adewale B, Kauser S, Lebeuf S, Benoit J, Scott SD. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the sexual and reproductive health of adolescents in Alberta, Canada. Reprod Health 2023; 20:172. [PMID: 37990327 PMCID: PMC10664423 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-023-01712-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The COVID-19 pandemic led to major service disruptions in the healthcare sector, especially regarding sexual and reproductive health services. However, the impact of the pandemic on Canadian adolescents is relatively unknown. This study aimed to investigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of adolescents in Alberta, Canada. METHODS A qualitative study using an interpretive description (ID) approach and community-based participatory research principles was conducted to capture the subjective experience and perceptions of adolescents and service providers. With the collaboration of the Adolescent Advisory Group and community partners, 18 adolescents and 15 service providers were recruited for the study through purposive sampling. Findings from the qualitative interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS Three major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) COVID-19 SRH experience, (2) barriers to SRH, and (3) adolescent SRH strategies. Our findings highlight numerous barriers and challenges that prevented adolescents from accessing SRH education, products, and services. CONCLUSION The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound impact on the SRH and the well-being of adolescents. Our study reflects the need for diverse SRH strategies to maintain continued access to SRH resources during disruptive events, such as the pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salima Meherali
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Amyna Ismail Rehmani
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada.
| | - Mariam Ahmad
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Bisi Adewale
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Samar Kauser
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Simone Lebeuf
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405-87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - James Benoit
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| | - Shannon D Scott
- Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton Clinic Health Academy, 11405 87 Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1C9, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bergh K, Jonas K, Duby Z, Govindasamy D, Mathews C, Reddy T, Slingers N, Whittle G, Abdullah F. Factors Associated with COVID-19 Vaccine Uptake among Schoolgoing Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:1581. [PMID: 37896983 PMCID: PMC10610973 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11101581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: By October 2022, vaccination rates with at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine were low among adolescent girls aged 12-17 (38%) and young women aged 18-34 (45%) in South Africa. This study aimed to measure and identify barriers to and facilitators of motivation to take up, access to, and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among schoolgoing adolescent girls and young women in two districts in South Africa. (2) Methods: Using the theory of the HIV prevention cascade, we conceptualised the relationship between motivation, access, and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, and associated barriers. Potential barriers and facilitators were identified using bivariate and multivariable Poisson regression. (3) Results: Among all 2375 participants, access was high (69%), but motivation (49%) and vaccination with at least one COVID-19 vaccine (45%) were lower. Fear of injections was a barrier to vaccine uptake (aRR 0.85 95% CI 0.82-0.88), while being tested for COVID-19 (aRR 2.10 95% CI 1.85-2.38) and believing that the COVID-19 vaccine was safe (aRR 1.31 95% CI 1.18-1.44) and would prevent you from getting very sick (aRR 1.11 95% CI 1.04-1.19) were facilitators. (4) Conclusions: The controversy about the value of vaccinating adolescents and the delay in vaccine rollout for adolescents and young adults may have contributed to fears about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines, as well as a lack of motivation to get vaccinated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kate Bergh
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7501, South Africa
- Department of Psychology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
| | - Kim Jonas
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7501, South Africa
| | - Zoe Duby
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7501, South Africa
- Division of Social and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Darshini Govindasamy
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7501, South Africa
| | - Catherine Mathews
- Health Systems Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town 7501, South Africa
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Tarylee Reddy
- Biostatistics Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban 4091, South Africa
| | - Nevilene Slingers
- Office of AIDS and TB Research, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Granville Whittle
- Department of Basic Education, Government of South Africa, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
| | - Fareed Abdullah
- Office of AIDS and TB Research, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria 0001, South Africa
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Steve Biko Academic Hospital and University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Ogunbiyi BO, Baird S, Bingenheimer JB, Vyas A. Agency and role models: do they matter for adolescent girls' sexual and reproductive health? BMC Womens Health 2023; 23:515. [PMID: 37759195 PMCID: PMC10523787 DOI: 10.1186/s12905-023-02659-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite recent declines in early childbearing in Ethiopia, improved sexual and reproductive health continues to elude many adolescent girls, partially due to constrained agency and role models. This study examined the relationship between agency, role models and two sexual and reproductive health outcomes, ideal age at childbirth and attitude towards gender-differentiated parental control, among adolescent girls in Ethiopia. Agency and role model presence were positively associated with ideal age at childbirth (β = 0.23, p < .01 and β = 0.77, p < .001, respectively). Having family members, friends or famous individuals as role models was significantly associated with an increase of 1.45 years (p < .01), 1.32 years (p < .05) and 1.01 years (p < .01) in ideal age at childbirth, respectively, compared to having no role model. Agency was positively associated with attitude towards gender-differentiated parental control of adolescent behaviors (OR = 1.18, p < .001). This study highlights the need for interventions aimed at increasing agency and providing role models for adolescent girls.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bolatito O Ogunbiyi
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Sarah Baird
- Department of Global Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Bingenheimer
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Amita Vyas
- Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Groenewald C, Isaacs N, Qoza P. Hope, agency, and adolescents' sexual and reproductive health: A mini review. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2023; 5:1007005. [PMID: 36874262 PMCID: PMC9982081 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2023.1007005] [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: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Availability of and access to services that promote sexual and reproductive health (SRH) amongst adolescent girls have become a global priority. Yet, while researchers have explored factors that influence the uptake of SRH services in low-and-middle income countries, the roles that "agency" and "hope" play in adolescent SRH is less understood. To study this, this mini review systematically reviewed the literature across three databases, EBSCO-host web, Pubmed and South Africa (SA) epublications, for the period of January 2012 to January 2022. Findings showed that a paucity of studies identified the link between agency, hope and adolescent SRH respectively. Our review included 12 articles and found no studies that focused on hope and its role in adolescent SRH or seeking SRH services. However, the literature revealed the complexities of adolescent SRH agency and autonomy where female adolescents had limited autonomy to make SRH decisions. Limited access to adolescent friendly SRH services was also found to restrict girls' agency to prevent unintended pregnancies or to take up SRH support. Given the paucity of research, empirical studies are needed to further understand the extent to which hope, agency and other subjective factors implicate adolescent SRH in the African context.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Candice Groenewald
- Centre for Community-Based Research, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa.,Psychology Department, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa
| | - Nazeema Isaacs
- Impact Centre, Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Phiwokazi Qoza
- Centre for Community-Based Research, Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chimbindi N, Ngema U, Ngwenya N, Gibbs A, Groenewald C, Harling G, Mthiyane N, Nkosi B, Seeley J, Shahmanesh M. The sexual and reproductive health needs of school-going young people in the context of COVID-19 in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AIDS RESEARCH : AJAR 2022; 21:162-170. [PMID: 35901293 DOI: 10.2989/16085906.2022.2095921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Background: The impact of school closures due to COVID-19 raised widespread concerns about children's health and well-being. We examine the impact on the sexual health needs of learners in the context of COVID-19 related lockdowns in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Methods: In july-November 2020 and August-November 2021 we conducted 24 in-depth interviews and 8 group discussions with teachers and learners from 4 schools, community members and key education stakeholders. All interviews were conducted by telephone. We used a thematic analysis approach and Nvivo 12 software to manage the data.Results: Four main themes related to the COVID-19 pandemic emerged from the data: the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of learners in the lead-up to the pandemic; the impact of COVID-19 on learners' SRH and wellbeing; the opportunities schools provided to support sexual well-being of learners during the pandemic; and the role of schools in supporting SRH for learners during the pandemic. Learners and stakeholders reported that the SRH of young people was affected by alcohol misuse, poor SRH knowledge and few pathways to link learners with services. Stakeholders working with schools reported that a lack of access to biomedical interventions (e.g., contraception) increased learner pregnancies. Gender-based violence in learners' households was reported to have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic related to loss of income. School closures disrupted the provision of a safe space to provide SRH and HIV-education through Life Orientation lessons and school nurse talks. This loss of a safe space also left learners vulnerable to sexual and physical violence. However, once schools re-opened, daily COVID-19 screening in schools provided the opportunity to identify and support vulnerable children who had other social needs (food and uniforms).Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic may have increased SRH needs and vulnerability of school-going children in a high HIV-burden rural setting. School shutdowns reduced the opportunity for schools to provide a vital safe space and information to enhance SRH for adolescents. Schools play a vital health promotion and social protection role.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natsayi Chimbindi
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban & Mtubatuba, South Africa.,Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Ursula Ngema
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban & Mtubatuba, South Africa
| | - Nothando Ngwenya
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban & Mtubatuba, South Africa.,Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Andrew Gibbs
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,Gender and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Candice Groenewald
- Centre for Community Based Research, Human Sciences Research Council, Durban, South Africa.,Department of Psychology, Rhodes University, Makhanda, South Africa
| | - Guy Harling
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban & Mtubatuba, South Africa.,Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,MRC/Wits Rural Public Health & Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Department of Epidemiology & Harvard Centre for Population and Development Studies, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Nondumiso Mthiyane
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban & Mtubatuba, South Africa.,Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Busisiwe Nkosi
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban & Mtubatuba, South Africa.,Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| | - Janet Seeley
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban & Mtubatuba, South Africa.,University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maryam Shahmanesh
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, Durban & Mtubatuba, South Africa.,Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|