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

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.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Simmonds ◽  
Charles Parry ◽  
Fareed Abdullah ◽  
Nadine Harker Burhams ◽  
Nicola Christofides

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane E. Simmonds ◽  
Charles D. H. Parry ◽  
Fareed Abdullah ◽  
Nadine Harker Burnhams ◽  
Nicola Christofides

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.


2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 281-286
Author(s):  
K. G. Morwe ◽  
E. K. Klu ◽  
A. K. Tugli

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 1053-1065
Author(s):  
Claudia Marotta ◽  
Peter Lochoro ◽  
Damiano Pizzol ◽  
Giovanni Putoto ◽  
Walter Mazzucco ◽  
...  

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.


Author(s):  
Madipoane Masenya (Ngwan’A Mphahlele)

The history of the Christian Bible’s reception in South Africa was part of a package that included among others, the importation of European patriarchy, land grabbing and its impoverishment of Africans and challenged masculinities of African men. The preceding factors, together with the history of the marginalization of African women in bible and theology, and how the Bible was and continues to be used in our HIV and AIDS contexts, have only made the proverbial limping animal to climb a mountain. Wa re o e bona a e hlotša, wa e nametša thaba (while limping, you still let it climb a mountain) simply means that a certain situation is being aggravated (by an external factor). In this chapter the preceding Northern Sotho proverb is used as a hermeneutical lens to present an HIV and AIDS gender sensitive re-reading of the Vashti character in the Hebrew Bible within the South African context.


2021 ◽  
pp. bmjinnov-2020-000534
Author(s):  
Patricia S Coffey ◽  
Maggie Kilbourne-Brook

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.


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