scholarly journals “Knowledge I seek because culture doesn’t work anymore … It doesn’t work, death comes”: the experiences of third-generation female caregivers (gogos) in South Africa discussing sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with children in their care

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane E. Simmonds ◽  
Charles D. H. Parry ◽  
Fareed Abdullah ◽  
Nadine Harker Burnhams ◽  
Nicola Christofides
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Primary Caregivers ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Third Generation ◽  
Gender Barriers ◽  
Sexual Reproductive Health ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Generation Female

Abstract Background Sexual reproductive health communication between parents and children has been shown to promote safer sexual choices. In many South African households, third-generation female caregivers, often grandmothers or other older females, locally known as gogos, are primary caregivers of children due to parents being deceased or absent. Subsequently, the responsibility of talking about sex and related issues has shifted to these gogos. This study explored the experiences of gogos living in Alexandra, Johannesburg on talking about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with children aged 10–18 years that are in their care. Methods Ten primary caregivers were purposively selected. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews. Thematic analysis was performed and inductive codes and themes identified. Results All gogos selected found it difficult to discuss sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS due to culture and traditional values impacting on personal experiences as well as generation and gender barriers. Perceived low self-efficacy due to low levels of knowledge and limited skills in speaking about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS also contributed to low levels of sexual reproductive health communication. Conclusions This study highlights the need for interventions that focus on improving gogos’ knowledge about sexual reproductive health in addition to providing them with the skills to talk about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with children in their care.

scholarly journals “Knowledge I seek because culture doesn’t work anymore … It doesn’t work, death comes”: The experiences of third generation female caregivers (“gogos”) in South Africa discussing sex and HIV and AIDS with children in their care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Simmonds ◽  
Charles Parry ◽  
Fareed Abdullah ◽  
Nadine Harker Burhams ◽  
Nicola Christofides
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Third Generation ◽  
Sampled Data ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Sexual Reproductive Health ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Generation Female

Abstract Sexual reproductive health communication between parents and children has been shown to promote safer sexual choices. Where third generation female caregivers, often grandmothers or other older females, commonly called gogos in South Africa, are primary care givers, the responsibility of talking about sex and related issues has shifted to them. This study explored the experiences of gogos in Alexandra, Johannesburg, talking about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with the children they are raising. Ten primary caregivers were purposively sampled. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews. Thematic analysis was performed and inductive codes and themes identified. All gogos sampled found it difficult to discuss sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS due to culture and traditional values impacting on personal experiences and generation and gender barriers. Perceived low self-efficacy due to low levels of knowledge and limited skills in speaking about sex and HIV and AIDS also contributed to the low levels of sexual reproductive health communication. This study highlights the need for interventions that focus on improving gogos’ knowledge about HIV and AIDS in addition to providing them with the skills to talk about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with children in their care.

scholarly journals “Knowledge I seek because culture doesn’t work anymore … It doesn’t work, death comes”: The experiences of third generation female caregivers (“gogos”) in South Africa discussing sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with children in their care

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Simmonds ◽  
Charles Parry ◽  
Fareed Abdullah ◽  
Nadine Harker Burhams ◽  
Nicola Christofides
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Communication ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Third Generation ◽  
Sampled Data ◽  
Care Givers ◽  
Sexual Reproductive Health ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Generation Female

Abstract Background Sexual reproductive health communication between parents and children has been shown to promote safer sexual choices. Where third generation female caregivers, often grandmothers or other older females, commonly called gogos in South Africa, are primary care givers, the responsibility of talking about sex and related issues has shifted to them. This study explored the experiences of gogos in Alexandra, Johannesburg, talking about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with the children in their care aged 10-18 years. Methods Ten primary caregivers were purposively sampled. Data were collected through in-depth individual interviews. Thematic analysis was performed and inductive codes and themes identified. Results All gogos sampled found it difficult to discuss sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS due to culture and traditional values impacting on personal experiences and generation and gender barriers. Perceived low self-efficacy due to low levels of knowledge and limited skills in speaking about sex and HIV and AIDS also contributed to the low levels of sexual reproductive health communication. Conclusions This study highlights the need for interventions that focus on improving gogos’ knowledge about HIV and AIDS in addition to providing them with the skills to talk about sex, sexuality and HIV and AIDS with children in their care.

scholarly journals Capacity assessment for provision of quality sexual reproductive health and HIV-integrated services in Karamoja, Uganda

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 1053-1065
Author(s):  
Claudia Marotta ◽  
Peter Lochoro ◽  
Damiano Pizzol ◽  
Giovanni Putoto ◽  
Walter Mazzucco ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Building Blocks ◽  
Integrated Services ◽  
Hiv And Aids ◽  
Health Issues ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sexual Reproductive Health ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus ◽  
Karamoja Region

Introduction: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) are crucial global health issues. Uganda continues to sustain a huge burden of HIV and AIDS. Methods: A cross-sectional health facility-based assessment was performed in November and December 2016 in Karamoja Region, northern Uganda. All the 126 health facilities (HFs) in Karamoja, including 5 hospitals and 121 Health Centers (HCs), covering 51 sub-counties of the 7 districts were assessed. We assessed the capacity of a) leadership and governance, b) human resource, c) service delivery, d) SRH and HIV service integration and e) users satisfaction and perceptions. Results: 64% of the established health staffing positions were filled leaving an absolute gap of 704 units in terms of human resources. As for service delivery capacity, on 5 domains assessed, the best performing was basic hygiene and safety measures in which 33% HCs scored “excellent”, followed by the presence of basic equipment. The level of integration of SRH/HIV services was 55.56%. Conclusion: HFs in Karamoja have capacity gaps in a number of health system building blocks. Many of these gaps can be addressed through improved planning. To invest in improvements for these services would have a great gain for Uganda. Keywords: Quality Sexual Reproductive Health; HIV-Integrated Services; Karamoja, Uganda.

scholarly journals Using human-centred design to develop an innovative female condom

2021 ◽  
pp. bmjinnov-2020-000534
Author(s):  
Patricia S Coffey ◽  
Maggie Kilbourne-Brook
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Second Generation ◽  
Female Condom ◽  
Barrier Method ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Dual Protection ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Female Condoms ◽  
Generation Female ◽  
Human Centred Design

ObjectiveThe female condom is a non-hormonal barrier method that can protect from unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections such as HIV. Female condoms are an important contribution to women’s reproductive health globally as they are the only woman-initiated method currently available that can provide dual protection. This article describes how human-centred design (HCD) was applied to the development of the Woman’s Condom—a second-generation female condom.MethodsA multidisciplinary team pioneered the application of HCD principles to develop a novel reproductive health product. The Woman’s Condom design incorporated feedback from both female and male users from multiple sites in the USA and Cuernavaca, Mexico; Durban, South Africa and Khon Kaen, Thailand to inform product development.ResultsWe developed and tested more than 50 design iterations reflecting various solutions to user-related concerns. The final locked design confirmed that the Woman’s Condom was easy to use, stable, comfortable and provided satisfactory sensation during sex for both partners. The ‘dissolving capsule’ to facilitate insertion and ‘soft cling’ design are key innovative features of the Woman’s Condom.ConclusionThe Woman’s Condom is a second-generation female (or internal) condom product that has been shown to be highly acceptable to users throughout the world. The Woman’s Condom’s special design features enable easy insertion, secure fit during use, good sensation and easy removal. Engaging users as codesigners through an HCD approach resulted in a female condom that meets the needs of women and men from diverse regions.

Developing a USSD-based mobile phone app to provide adolescents with sexual reproductive health information: A human-centered design approach (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Macharia ◽  
Antoni Pérez-Navarro ◽  
Irene Inwani ◽  
Ruth Nduati ◽  
Carme Carrion
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Mobile Phone ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Mobile App ◽  
Resource Limited Settings ◽  
Human Centered Design ◽  
On Demand ◽  
Sexual Reproductive Health ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Adolescent Reproductive Health

BACKGROUND Adolescent pregnancies and sexually-transmitted infections continue to impact 15 – 19-year-olds across the globe. The lack of sexual reproductive health information in resource-limited settings can often be due to cultural and societal attitudes to adolescent sexual reproductive health. Innovative approaches, including mobile phone technologies, are needed to address the need for adolescent reproductive health information. OBJECTIVE To design and develop a mobile app prototype to provide confidential adolescent reproductive health information on demand and evaluate its usability and user experience. METHODS A human-centered design methodology was applied. This practice framework allowed the perspectives and feedback of adolescent users to be included in the iterative design process. Field usability testing enabled the adolescents to provide feedback on the functionality, usability, and usefulness of the app. RESULTS During the usability test, 62 (54.9%) of the adolescents that were followed-up had used the app at least once, 30 (48.4%) of these were male participants and 32 (51.6%) female. The app was described as ‘very interesting’ to use by 44 (70.9%) participants, 20 male and 24 female. The content was deemed to be either ‘perfectly’ or ‘well targeted’ on sexual reproductive health by 60 (96.7%) adolescents, and the app was rated ‘best app’ by 45 (72.6%) adolescents, 27 female and 18 male, with a p-value = 0.011. CONCLUSIONS A mobile phone app is a feasible and acceptable way to deliver adolescent sexual reproductive health information in resource-limited settings. The USSD mobile phone technology could deliver confidential information on demand.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document