Capturing the Complexities of Adolescent Transitions Through a Mixed Methods Longitudinal Research Design

2021 ◽  
pp. 135-164
Author(s):  
Sarah Baird ◽  
Nicola Jones ◽  
Bassam Abu Hamad ◽  
Maheen Sultan ◽  
Workneh Yadete
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Longitudinal Research ◽  
Rapid Change ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Evidence Base ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Human Capabilities ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Methodological Choices ◽  
Sub Saharan

Adolescence is a time of rapid change in the lifecycle, with significant shifts in physical, cognitive and psychological competencies, and major changes in social roles and expectations. However, our collective understanding of the patterning of these changes and the types of support young people require to reach their full human capabilities is still limited. Given that multiple Sustainable Development Goals rest on investments in adolescents (from goals on eliminating harmful traditional practices including child marriage and female genital mutilation to ensuring quality secondary, tertiary and technical and vocational education), investing in a more robust evidence base and improved measurement is critical. The Gender and Adolescence: Global Evidence (GAGE) research programme is a key initiative aimed at contributing to this evidence and measurement lacuna. This article discusses the design and methodological choices of the GAGE study, which is the largest longitudinal research initiative focused on adolescents (10-19 years) in the Global South, following 18,000 adolescent girls and boys in developmental and humanitarian contexts in sub-Saharan Africa, MENA and South Asia. It includes a discussion in line with the 2030 Sustainable Development commitment to leave no one behind of the programme’s purposeful sampling of advantaged adolescents.

scholarly journals Wetlands in Ethiopia: Lessons From 20 years of Research, Policy and Practice

Wetlands ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan Dixon ◽  
Adrian Wood ◽  
Afework Hailu
Keyword(s):  
Research Policy ◽  
Wetland Management ◽  
Local Level ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Research Programme ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Wetland Use

AbstractThroughout sub-Saharan Africa wetlands provide ecosystem services that are critical to the development needs of many people. Local wetland use, however, is often at odds with broader national policy goals in which narratives of conservation and protection dominate, hence a recurring challenge is how to reconcile these tensions through the development of policies and field practice that deliver sustainable development. In this paper we examine the extent to which this challenge has been achieved in Ethiopia, charting the changes in wetlands policy and discourse over the last twenty years while reviewing the contribution of the multidisciplinary Ethiopian Wetlands Research Programme (EWRP) (1997–2000). Our analysis suggests that despite EWRP having a significant legacy in developing national interest in wetlands among research, government and non-governmental organisations, its more holistic social-ecological interpretation of wetland management remains neglected within a policy arena dominated by specific sectoral interests and little recognition of the needs of local people. In exploring the impacts at the local level, recent investigations with communities in Ilu Aba Bora Zone highlight adjustments in wetland use that famers attribute to environmental, economic and social change, but which also evidence the adaptive nature of wetland-based livelihoods.

scholarly journals The impact of community led alternative rite of passage on eradication of female genital mutilation/cutting in Kajiado County, Kenya: A quasi-experimental study

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249662
Author(s):  
Samuel Muhula ◽  
Anthony Mveyange ◽  
Samuel Oji Oti ◽  
Martha Bande ◽  
Hellen Kayiaa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Female Genital Mutilation ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Rite Of Passage ◽  
Genital Mutilation ◽  
Community Stakeholders ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Female Genital

Introduction In Kenya, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) is highly prevalent in specific communities such as the Maasai and Somali. With the intention of curtailing FMG/C prevalence in Maasai community, Amref Health Africa, designed and implemented a novel intervention—community-led alternative rite of passage (CLARP) in Kajiado County in Kenya since 2009. The study: a) determined the impact of the CLARP model on FGM/C, child early and forced marriages (CEFM), teenage pregnancies (TP) and years of schooling among girls and b) explored the attitude, perception and practices of community stakeholders towards FGM/C. Methods We utilised a mixed methods approach. A difference-in-difference approach was used to quantify the average impact of the model with Kajiado as the intervention County and Mandera, Marsabit and Wajir as control counties. The approach relied on secondary data analysis of the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2003, 2008–2009 and 2014. A qualitative approach involving focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and key informant interviews were conducted with various respondents and community stakeholders to document experiences, attitude and practices towards FGM/C. Results The CLARP has contributed to: 1) decline in FGM/C prevalence, CEFM rates and TP rates among girls by 24.2% (p<0.10), 4.9% (p<0.01) and 6.3% (p<0.01) respectively. 2) increase in girls schooling years by 2.5 years (p<0.05). Perceived CLARP benefits to girls included: reduction in teenage marriages and childbirth; increased school retention and completion; teenage pregnancies reduction and decline in FGM/C prevalence. Community stakeholders in Kajiado believe that CLARP has been embraced in the community because of its impacts in the lives of its beneficiaries and their families. Conclusion This study demonstrated that CLARP has been positively received by the Maasai community and has played a significant role in attenuating FGM/C, CEFM and TP in Kajiado, while contributing to increasing girls’ schooling years. CLARP is replicable as it is currently being implemented in Tanzania. We recommend scaling it up for adoption by stakeholders implementing in other counties that practice FGM/C as a rite of passage in Kenya and across other sub Saharan Africa countries.

scholarly journals Rapid tranquillisation: practice in Zambia, before and after training

2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 95-97
Author(s):  
Mahesh Jayaram ◽  
Ranga Rattehalli ◽  
Lindsay Moran ◽  
John Mwanza ◽  
Paul Banda ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evidence Base ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Collaborative Partnerships ◽  
Inappropriate Use ◽  
Short Time Span ◽  
Safety Awareness ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Therapeutic Doses ◽  
Short Time

The evidence base for rapid tranquillisation is small in higher-income countries but is even smaller in sub-Saharan Africa. We initiated the first ever survey on the use of rapid tranquillisation in Zambia in 2009; a further survey was then done in 2010, after a programme of teaching and training. It demonstrated an overall improvement in clinical practice, safety, awareness and use of medications within therapeutic doses. It also led to a reduction in inappropriate use of medications. These improvements in practice occurred within a short time span and with minimal effort. Further international collaborative partnerships are required to build stronger mental health infrastructure in Zambia.

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