Development and Validation of a Scale to Measure Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health Stigma: Results From Young Women in Ghana

Seventeen articles make up this special collection, covering a range of different, but cross-cutting themes. These highlight contemporary concerns in African research and scholarship about the factors configuring the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). The articles interrogate contextual and cultural impediments, problematic representations, perceptions of vulnerabilities and rights, experiences of gender-based violence, coercive sex, unplanned motherhood—and agency, resistance and strategic interventions. While a diverse range of issues, theories, and methodologies are evident, all the articles reflect on how the circumstances of young women in Africa can be effectively improved to engender empowerment, good health, and personal and sexual autonomy.

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Sexual and reproductive health behaviors and experiences reported by young women with cystic fibrosis

Journal of Cystic Fibrosis ◽

10.1016/j.jcf.2017.07.017 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (1) ◽

pp. 57-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Traci M. Kazmerski ◽

Gregory S. Sawicki ◽

Elizabeth Miller ◽

Kelley A. Jones ◽

Kaleab Z. Abebe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cystic Fibrosis ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Health Behaviors ◽

Young Women ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health

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Cystic fibrosis program directors’ attitudes toward sexual and reproductive health in young women with CF

Pediatric Pulmonology ◽

10.1002/ppul.23321 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 51 (1) ◽

pp. 22-27 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Traci M. Kazmerski ◽

Lisa K. Tuchman ◽

Sonya Borrero ◽

Daniel Weiner ◽

Joseph M. Pilewski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cystic Fibrosis ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Young Women ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Program Directors

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Uptake of Contraception Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women PrEP Clients: Leveraging the Opportunity to Strengthen HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health Integration

Frontiers in Reproductive Health ◽

10.3389/frph.2021.684114 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 3 ◽

Author(s):

Melanie Pleaner ◽

Zukiswa Fipaza ◽

Khuthala Mabetha ◽

Letitia Greener ◽

Sydney Ncube ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Young Women ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Monitoring Data ◽

Consistent Condom ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Routine Monitoring ◽

New Guidelines ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

The introduction of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention was a major breakthrough in South Africa (SA). While the initial introduction focused on issues such as the development and implementation of new guidelines, supply, and the development of demand creation strategies, the need to integrate PrEP services with sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services has gained traction both globally and locally. Project PrEP was implemented in eight healthcare facilities and four mobile clinics in three provinces in SA. Using monitoring data from across the four project clusters, and 4,949 clients, over a 21-month period, we conducted an analysis of baseline routine monitoring data to examine contraceptive uptake in adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) initiating PrEP at project sites. Two-thirds of women (62.3%, n = 3,083) reported the current use of contraception at baseline, with the most commonly used methods being hormonal injectables (61.9%, n = 1,829) and male condoms (19.4%, n = 575). A third (32.3%, n = 603) of the non-contraceptive users accepted a method at PrEP initiation. From a total of 1,007 (32.7%) current contraceptive users at baseline, 865 (85.9%) chose the same or a different method at this visit. The method uptake at PrEP initiation increased the overall contraceptive prevalence by 12.2 to 74.5%. Data indicated that over a third (38.8%, n = 725) who were not using a method at baseline described themselves as consistent condom users. Although a major focus of the project was on PrEP service provision, all women were counseled and offered contraceptive services. The acceptance of a method by a third of non-users was promising; however, more understanding of those who did not take up a method is required. The need to leverage opportunities for the promotion of the integration of HIV and family planning at all levels of PrEP provision was highlighted.

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Mental health outcomes of a pilot 2-arm randomized controlled trial of a HIV-prevention program for South African adolescent girls and young women and their female caregivers

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-12010-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Geri Donenberg ◽

Katherine G. Merrill ◽

Millicent Atujuna ◽

Erin Emerson ◽

Bethany Bray ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Logistic Regression ◽

Hiv Prevention ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Health Outcomes ◽

South African ◽

Adolescent Girls ◽

Young Women ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health

Abstract Background South African adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) report significant mental distress and sexual and reproductive health concerns. Mental health problems and trauma symptoms are consistently associated with sexual and reproductive health behavior. Despite their intersection, few interventions address them simultaneously or engage female caregivers (FC) as collaborators. This study presents findings from a pilot test of an empirically supported culturally adapted family-based HIV-prevention program, Informed Motivated Aware and Responsible Adolescents and Adults- South Africa (IMARA-SA), on AGYW anxiety, depression, and trauma. Methods Sixty 15–19-year-old AGYW (mean age = 17.1 years) and their FC from outside Cape Town were randomized to IMARA-SA or a health promotion control program. AGYW reported their anxiety using the GAD-7, depression using the PHQ-9, and trauma using the PC-PTSD-5 at baseline and follow-up (6–10 months post). Both interventions were delivered by Xhosa-speaking Black South African women in groups over 2 days for approximately 10 h. We examined intervention effects using zero-inflated negative binomial regression for anxiety, multinomial logistic regression for depression, and logistic regression for trauma. Results At baseline, groups did not differ in demographic characteristics but AGYW randomized to IMARA-SA had higher depression scores than controls (p = 0.04) and a greater proportion screened positive for PTSD (p = .07). Controlling for baseline mental health scores, AGYW who received IMARA-SA compared to controls had significantly fewer anxiety symptoms at follow-up (adjusted incidence rate ratio for count model = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.29–0.99, p = 0.05), were less likely to report at least one depressive symptom relative to no symptoms (relative risk ratio = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.95, p = 0.04), and were less likely to report symptoms of PTSD relative to no symptoms, but this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions Mental health is implicated in risky sexual behavior, and reducing emotional distress can mitigate exposure to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. This pilot study yielded promising findings for the mental health impact of IMARA-SA, justifying replication in a larger randomized trial. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Number NCT04758390, accepted 17/02/2021.

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Exploring contraception myths and misconceptions among young men and women in Kwale County, Kenya

10.21203/rs.2.21058/v2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Jefferson Mwaisaka ◽

Lianne Gonsalves ◽

Mary Thiongo ◽

Michael Waithaka ◽

Hellen Sidha ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Young Women ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Health Knowledge ◽

Young Men ◽

Modern Contraceptive ◽

Men And Women ◽

Future Fertility ◽

And Gender ◽

Prevention Methods

Abstract Background: Myths and misconceptions around modern contraceptives have been associated with low contraceptive uptake. Nearly all the research on the link between contraceptives’ misconceptions and low contraceptive prevalence comes mostly from women with little focus on men. This qualitative study therefore sought to explore and understand both young men’s and young women’s knowledge of modern contraception and to identify key concerns regarding modern pregnancy prevention methods.Methods: We used focus group discussions (FGD) with vignette and writing activities to explore key myths and misconceptions around the use of contraceptives. Six FGDs (three for young men and three for young women) were conducted with a total of 28 young women and 30 young men from Kwale County, Kenya. We included 10 discussants aged 18-24 per FGD, one FGD had 8 participants.Results: Both men and women participants reported basic awareness of contraceptives. A mixture of biological and social misconceptions around contraception were discussed, they included jeopardizing future fertility, prolonged menstrual bleeding, problems conceiving, birth defects, promiscuity, against religion and perceived to be un-African including denying couples their sexual freedom. Compared to female respondents in the study, young men appeared to be strong believers of the perceived socio-cultural effects of contraceptives. Results are presented under three key themes namely (i) Awareness of contraception (ii) Myths and misconceptions around contraception and (iii) Males’ contraceptive narratives. Conclusions: This study revealed a low level of contraceptive knowledge among young men and women in Kwale County, Kenya. Most respondents reported contraceptive fears and misconceptions resulting from critical gaps in Sexual and Reproductive Health knowledge. Improved sexual and reproductive health (SRH) literacy to address contraceptives’ fears through appropriate and gender specific interventions to reach out to young men and women with factual SRH information may contribute to increased uptake of SRH services including modern contraceptive methods.

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