Changes to the law on consent in South Africa: implications for school-based adolescent sexual and reproductive health research

Abstract Introduction The school-based sexuality education programmes in South Africa aim to improve the sexual and reproductive health of school-going adolescents. However, the high rate of unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections among learners in some schools in rural areas of King Cetshwayo district suggests that the programmes in these schools might not be effective due to certain learner-centred factors. Method This qualitative study explored lived experiences of 84 learners from nine public schools in 2020 through focus group interviews. Data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Results Learner-centred barriers to effective school-based sexuality education identified in this study were attitudes, age disparity, psychological status, peer pressure, socio-economic status, the exploratory attitude of learners, media, lack of role models, previous experiences, socio-economic status, and lack of parental love. These factors could reduce good sexual health. Learner-targeted interventions such as campaigns, using guest professionals, condom distribution, videos, on-site family planning, formal demonstrations, and on-site counselling could address these barriers. Conclusions Addressing these barriers and implementing the proposed interventions will enhance school-based sexuality education and consequently improve adolescents’ sexual health. Policy Implications The findings could guide programming, implementation, and delivery of school-based sexuality education leading to improved adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Key informant perspectives on policy- and service-level challenges and opportunities for delivering integrated sexual and reproductive health and HIV care in South Africa.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.716197979.791552890 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Kelly Blanchard ◽

Ruth Manski ◽

Amanda Dennis

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Service Level ◽

Hiv Care ◽

Key Informant ◽

Challenges And Opportunities

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Are rhetorical commitments to adolescents reflected in planning documents? An exploratory content analysis of adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Global Financing Facility country plans

Reproductive Health ◽

10.1186/s12978-021-01121-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (S1) ◽

Author(s):

Asha S. George ◽

Tanya Jacobs ◽

Mary V. Kinney ◽

Annie Haakenstad ◽

Neha S. Singh ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Content Analysis ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Health Services ◽

Adolescent Health ◽

Teenage Pregnancy ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽

Social Determinant ◽

Project Appraisal ◽

School Based

Abstract Background The Global Financing Facility (GFF) offers an opportunity to close the financing gap that holds back gains in women, children’s and adolescent health. However, very little work exists examining GFF practice, particularly for adolescent health. As momentum builds for the GFF, we examine initial GFF planning documents to inform future national and multi-lateral efforts to advance adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Methods We undertook a content analysis of the first 11 GFF Investment Cases and Project Appraisal Documents available on the GFF website. The countries involved include Bangladesh, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. Results While several country documents signal understanding and investment in adolescents as a strategic area, this is not consistent across all countries, nor between Investment Cases and Project Appraisal Documents. In both types of documents commitments weaken as one moves from programming content to indicators to investment. Important contributions include how teenage pregnancy is a universal concern, how adolescent and youth friendly health services and school-based programs are supported in several country documents, how gender is noted as a key social determinant critical for mainstreaming across the health system, alongside the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration, and the acknowledgement of adolescent rights. Weaknesses include the lack of comprehensive analysis of adolescent health needs, inconsistent investments in adolescent friendly health services and school based programs, missed opportunities in not supporting multi-component and multi-level initiatives to change gender norms involving adolescent boys in addition to adolescent girls, and neglect of governance approaches to broker effective multi-sectoral collaboration, community engagement and adolescent involvement. Conclusion There are important examples of how the GFF supports adolescents and their sexual and reproductive health. However, more can be done. While building on service delivery approaches more consistently, it must also fund initiatives that address the main social and systems drivers of adolescent health. This requires capacity building for the technical aspects of adolescent health, but also engaging politically to ensure that the right actors are convened to prioritize adolescent health in country plans and to ensure accountability in the GFF process itself.

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Coming of age? Women’s sexual and reproductive health after twentyone years of democracy in South Africa

Reproductive Health Matters ◽

10.1016/j.rhm.2016.11.010 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 24 (48) ◽

pp. 79-89 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Diane Cooper ◽

Jane Harries ◽

Jennifer Moodley ◽

Deborah Constant ◽

Rebecca Hodes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Coming Of Age

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Understanding sexual and reproductive health needs of immigrant adolescents in Canada: A scoping review

The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality ◽

10.3138/cjhs.2021-0006 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. e20210006

Author(s):

Samantha Louie-Poon ◽

Mehnaz Rehmani ◽

Megan Kennedy ◽

Shannon Scott ◽

Bukola Salami ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reproductive Health ◽

Scoping Review ◽

Cultural Sensitivity ◽

Information Needs ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Careful Consideration ◽

Future Research ◽

Immigrant Adolescents ◽

School Based ◽

Strength Based

Despite the large number of immigrant adolescents in Canada, research on their knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and information needs is nearly nonexistent. A scoping review was undertaken following the PRISMA-ScR statement to identify and assess the existing literature regarding SRHR needs of immigrant adolescents in Canada. Of the 1514 articles retrieved from our search strategy, 15 studies met our inclusion criteria. The results from our review identifies three unique themes related to immigrant adolescents’ SRHR needs: knowledge needs, access to SRHR education and services, and approaches to SRHR education and services. Immigrant adolescents’ knowledge needs includes needs on HIV/STI transmission and protection, unintended pregnancy, sexual activity, family planning, pubertal education, navigating the health care system, and confidentiality legislations. Our results revealed that immigrant adolescents’ access SRHR education and services through both school-based and community-based settings. Lastly, approaches to SRHR education and services for immigrant adolescents should include cultural sensitivity, an intersectional approach, interactive learning, a strength-based approach, and reassuring confidentiality rights. The multi-faceted SRHR needs of immigrant adolescents in Canada demonstrates that future research, program development, and policymaking requires careful consideration of these intersecting forces. Inclusive SRHR education and services can be achieved through the employment of a critical cultural approach and intersectional strategies.

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Sexual behavior among Brazilian adolescents, National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE 2012)

Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia ◽

10.1590/1809-4503201400050010 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 17 (suppl 1) ◽

pp. 116-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Maryane Oliveira-Campos ◽

Marília Lavocart Nunes ◽

Fátima de Carvalho Madeira ◽

Maria Goreth Santos ◽

Silvia Reise Bregmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance Use ◽

Sexual Behavior ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Sexual Intercourse ◽

Risky Sexual Behavior ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Social Inequalities ◽

Unprotected Sex ◽

Psychoactive Substances ◽

School Based

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the sexual behavior among students who participated in the National Adolescent School-based Health Survey (PeNSE) 2012 and investigates whether social inequalities, the use of psychoactive substances and the dissemination of information on sexual and reproductive health in school are associated with differences in behavior. METHODOLOGY: The response variable was the sexual behavior described in three categories (never had sexual intercourse, had protected sexual intercourse, had unprotected sexual intercourse). The explanatory variables were grouped into socio- demographic characteristics, substance use and information on sexual and reproductive health in school. Variables associated with the conduct and unprotected sex were identified through multinomial logistic regression, using "never had sexual intercourse" as a reference. RESULTS: Over nearly a quarter of the adolescents have had sexual intercourse in life, being more frequent among boys. About 25% did not use a condom in the last intercourse. Low maternal education and work increased the chance of risky sexual behavior. Any chance of protected and unprotected sex increased with the number of psychoactive substances used. Among those who don't receive guidance on the prevention of pregnancy in school, the chance to have sexual intercourse increased, with the largest magnitude for unprotected sex (OR = 1.41 and OR = 1.87 ). CONCLUSION: The information on preventing pregnancy and STD/AIDS need to be disseminated before the 9th grade. Social inequalities negatively affect risky sexual behavior. Substance use is strongly associated with unprotected sex. Information on the prevention of pregnancy and STD/AIDS need to be disseminated early.

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School-Based Health Clinics: Improving Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in British Columbia – An Integrative Literature Review

10.24124/2020/59115 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

◽

Carmen Schalles

Keyword(s):

British Columbia ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Health Services ◽

Literature Review ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Societal Implications ◽

Health Clinics ◽

School Based ◽

Reproductive And Sexual Health

This integrative literature review strives to determine if the delivery of reproductive and sexual health services provided through high school-based primary care clinics can improve BC adolescent sexual and reproductive health. Adolescent sexual and reproductive health not only impacts life-long health; it also has significant societal implications. Although BC has begun to focus on adolescent health, innovative health service solutions are needed to improve adolescents’ health. Systematic search through the University of Northern British Columbia online library databases and Google scholar and the evaluation of the literature using CASP analysis tools resulted in the inclusion of 10 articles. Findings suggest school-based health clinics (SBHCs) decrease barriers that adolescents experience when accessing health services as well as public health system costs. Moreover, SBHCs are an effective mechanism to support adolescent reproductive and sexual health needs, especially in those populations with elevated levels of sexual and reproductive risk factors. However, for SBHCs to be effective, sustainable funding needs to be sourced, and barriers adolescents experience when accessing services need to be evaluated and addressed. SBHCs can complement current adolescent-friendly services to meet this unique population’s needs; however, further research is needed. More robust research on various demographics, health outcomes, and Canadian-based examination is required to strengthen SBHC implementation recommendations.

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Sexual and Reproductive Health knowledge of Postgraduate Students at the University of Cape Town, in South Africa

10.21203/rs.3.rs-77053/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Bupe Mwamba ◽

Pat Mayers ◽

Jawaya Shea

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Reproductive Health ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Online Survey ◽

Sexual And Reproductive Health ◽

Pap Smear ◽

Health Knowledge ◽

Postgraduate Students ◽

Breast Examination ◽

The University

Abstract BackgroundGlobally and in South Africa, university students’ knowledge of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is low. This study was conducted in response to the dearth of information about the sexual and reproductive health knowledge of postgraduate students. Research conducted to explore the SRH knowledge of undergraduate students suggests that the level of SRH knowledge among undergraduate students is low. The aim of this study was to determine the SRH knowledge of postgraduate students with regards to contraceptives, sexually transmitted illnesses (STI), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), Pap smear and clinical breast examination at University of Cape Town (UCT), in South Africa. MethodA cross sectional survey design was utilized, using an adapted and pretested online questionnaire. All postgraduate students enrolled in the first semester of 2017 (9444) were invited to anonymously complete the online survey.ResultsFour hundred and six (406) students completed the online survey, of whom 293 were female and 107 males. The age range of respondents was between 18 years and 57 years, with the median age for both male and female respondents being 24 years. Six survey responses were excluded from the statistical analysis because of incomplete data. Post graduate students from the African continent comprised 90.75% of the respondents. Most respondents were white (51.50%) from both Africa and abroad. The results indicated that respondents knew about sexually transmitted infections, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) & acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Female respondents were more aware of breast examination, and the role of Papanicolaou smear (Pap smear) in SRH. Almost half of the respondents in this study (49%) stated that they had no need for more information about contraceptives. Lecturers were identified as one of the top five sources of information, which suggests that the university environment provides students with important SRH-related information.ConclusionMost postgraduate students had knowledge of sexual and reproductive health with regards to contraception, Pap smear, clinical breast examination, STIs, HIV and AIDS. Further research should focus on the relationship between SRH knowledge and usage among this population. As university lecturers were identified as an important source of information across faculties, the University should consider the incorporation of SRH education in the broader curriculum and as an integral component of student health services.

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