Girl-only clubs’ influence on SRH knowledge, HIV risk reduction, and negative SRH outcomes among very young adolescent girls in rural Malawi

Abstract Background Early adolescence is an important period to lay the foundation for positive sexual health development that can overcome sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges faced by very young adolescents (VYAs) as they reach puberty and sexual debut. In this study, we explored the following questions: first, what are the experiences of VYA girls on DREAMS’ Go Girl club participation? Second, how does club participation influence the VYAs SRH knowledge to reduce their risk for HIV and negative sexual health outcomes? Methods This was a qualitative study in which twenty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with VYA girls aged 12–14 years. These girls were enrolled in girl-only clubs in two rural southern districts in Malawi. The clubs were a part of larger comprehensive HIV prevention project called DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) which provided an evidence-based core package of interventions to VYAs to prevent HIV. Interventions included improved access to key health services, education support, social skills, asset building, and economic strengthening. Narrative inquiry was used to generate first-hand accounts of the girls’ experiences with club participation. Thematic analysis was used to generate themes from the transcribed stories. Results Six main themes were generated: 1) reasons for joining the clubs with desire to learn about SRH as a motivation for joining the clubs.; 2) influence on gender norms and roles whereby participants described a change of gender roles and norms at home; 3) influence on child abuse practices whereby participants reported a decline in child abusive practices at home;4) influence on life skills and social networks whereby participants described learning about networking; 5) support to go back to school whereby out-of-school girls described how economic empowerment of their guardians facilitated their return to school; and 6) influence of clubs on SRH knowledge acquisition and behaviours whereby participants described acquiring knowledge on sexual health issues. Conclusion Girls-only HIV and SRH programs coupled with economic empowerment for their families can be effective in keeping VYA girls in school and improving SRH knowledge and health seeking behavior.

Download Full-text

Girl-Only Clubs’ Influence on SRH Knowledge, HIV Risk Reduction, and Negative SRH Outcomes among Very Young Adolescent Girls in Rural Malawi

10.21203/rs.3.rs-48977/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Wanangwa Chimwaza Manda ◽

Nanlesta Pilgrim ◽

Mphatso Kamndaya ◽

Sanyukta Mathur ◽

Yandisa Sikweyiya

Keyword(s):

Sexual Health ◽

Sexual Debut ◽

School Attendance ◽

Economic Empowerment ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Hiv Interventions ◽

Prevention Project ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Education Support ◽

At Home

Abstract BackgroundEarly adolescence is an important period to lay the foundation for positive sexual health development that can overcome sexual and reproductive health challenges faced by very young adolescents (VYAs) as they reach puberty and sexual debut. We report on first-hand accounts of experiences of VYA girls who participated in girl-only clubs, and explore the club participation influence on their SRH knowledge to reduce the risk for HIV and negative sexual health outcomes. MethodsThis was a qualitative study in which twenty-three in-depth interviews were conducted with VYA girls aged 12-14 years. These girls were enrolled in girl-only clubs in two rural southern districts in Malawi. The clubs were a part of larger comprehensive HIV prevention project called DREAMS (Determined, Resilient, Empowered, AIDS-free, Mentored, and Safe) which provided an evidence-based core package of interventions to VYAs to prevent HIV. Interventions included improved access to key health services, education support, social skills, asset building, and economic strengthening. Narrative inquiry was used to generate first-hand accounts of the girls’ experiences with club participation. A thematic analysis was used to generate themes from the transcribed stories. ResultsSix main themes were generated: 1) reasons for joining the clubs with desire to learn about SRH issues serving as the main motivation; 2) influence on gender norms and roles whereby participants described a change of gender roles and norms at home; 3) influence on child abuse practices whereby participants reported a decline in child abusive practices at home ;4) influence on life skills and social networks whereby participants described learning about networking; 5) influence of clubs on school attendance whereby out-of-school girls described how economic empowerment of their guardians facilitated their return to school; and 6) influence of clubs on SRH knowledge acquisition and behaviours whereby participants described acquiring knowledge on sexual health issues.Conclusion Girls-only HIV and SRH programs coupled with economic empowerment for their families can be effective in keeping VYA girls in school and improving SRH knowledge and health seeking behavior.

Download Full-text

Sexual health problems and health-seeking behavior of men who have sex with men in Agra City, Uttar Pradesh

Indian Journal of Public Health ◽

10.4103/ijph.ijph_1066_20 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 65 (2) ◽

pp. 142

Author(s):

SS Chaudhary ◽

KhanIqbal Aqeel ◽

SK Misra ◽

Geetu Singh ◽

Prashant Lavania

Keyword(s):

Sexual Health ◽

Uttar Pradesh ◽

Health Problems ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Health Seeking Behavior ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

Sex With Men ◽

Agra City

Download Full-text

UNINTENTIONAL HOUSEHOLD INJURIES AMONG CHILDREN UNDER TWELVE YEARS OF AGE, AND THEIR MOTHERS' HEALTH SEEKING BEHAVIOR: A CROSS SECTIONAL SURVEY CONDUCTED AT MILITARY HOSPITAL, RAWALPINDI

Pakistan Journal of Public Health ◽

10.32413/pjph.v6i4.6 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 17-20

Author(s):

Humaira Mahmood ◽

Saira Maroof ◽

Sumaira Masood ◽

Mahmood Ur Rahman

Keyword(s):

Low Income ◽

Low Income Countries ◽

Military Hospital ◽

Health Seeking ◽

Unintentional Injuries ◽

Severe Injuries ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health Seeking Behavior ◽

Seeking Behavior ◽

At Home

Background: Unintentional injuries among children cause a large burden of mortality and morbidity. Environmental factors play an important role in causing these injuries. The mortality rate from unintentional injuries in low income countries is nearly double than in the high income countries.Objectives: To assess frequency of unintentional household injuries among children and mothers' health seeking behavior in different types of injuries.Methods: It was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted in Military Hospital Rawalpindi from September 2015 to February 2016. A total of 116 mothers were interviewed having at least one child less than 12 years of age who has had sustained any household injury in last three months. A structured questionnaire was used for the study covering various aspects of the injury sustained and their health seeking behavior, after taking verbal consent from the participants. Collected data was analyzed using SPSS 22. A p < 0.05 was considered significant for a result.Results: Of all the 116 participants, 68(58.6%) were males and 48(41.4%) were females with 36(31%) from rural and 80(69%) from urban area of residence .Mean age of the children was 5.74Â±2.78.Most common injuries suffered in order of decreasing frequency were fall related injuries 48(41.4%), cuts/wound/bruises 41(35.3%), burns 18 (15.5%),choking 8(6.9%) and poisoning 1(0.9% ).Most of the injuries were sustained at evening time 44(37.9%) and mostly 78(67%) when the child was not accompanied by an adult.. As far as, management is concerned 48(41.4%) of the injuries were managed at home rest taken to some health facility.Conclusion: The most common accidental household injuries were falls. Most of the injuries were managed at home adequately but in case of severe injuries mothers seek help from a hospital or nearby clinic.

Download Full-text