scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RISK PREFERENCES OF ZIMBABWE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-45
Author(s):  
Lazarus Muchabaiwa ◽  
Josue Mbonigaba

Although the Zimbabwean government launched an Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health policy in 2010, HIV prevalence and incidence among youth remains amongst the highest in sub-Saharan Africa. Zimbabwean Youths in tertiary education institutions exhibit high-risk sexual behaviours. The study aimed to estimate the risk preference parameters of youths in a tertiary education setting to understand their risky behaviour better using prospect theory. It involved 250 students completing a socioeconomic questionnaire and making a choice from over three series of pairwise lottery questions framed around sexual and reproductive health prevention interventions. The study used bivariate techniques to examine differences in risk-taking behaviour. Ordinary least squares and interval regression techniques determined the socioeconomic determinants of the risk behaviour function. The study established an average risk aversion parameter of 0.7 and a probability weighting parameter of 0.8. The probability weighting parameter implies that the participants were more focused on the outcomes with less concern for their likelihood. The study estimated the loss aversion parameter at 2.26, which indicates the need to reduce loss-framed messages in favour of positively framed awareness campaigns. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses showed that income, prior sexual and reproductive health knowledge and alcoholism were associated with risk and loss aversion. We recommend positive framing of youth sexual and reproductive health awareness campaigns. We also recommend youth economic emancipation to increase economic prospects which in turn improves reference points which changes the viewing of health interventions and outcomes from the loss domain to gain domain.

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lesley Rose Ninsiima ◽  
Isabel Kazanga Chiumia ◽  
Rawlance Ndejjo

Abstract Background Despite the global agreements on adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health and rights, access to and utilisation of these services among the youth/adolescents remain unsatisfactory in low- and middle-income countries which are a significant barrier to progress in this area. This review established factors influencing access and utilisation of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health services (YFSRHS) among the youth in sub-Saharan Africa to inform programmatic interventions. Methodology A systematic review of studies published between January 2009 and April 2019 using PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, Medline, and Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases was conducted. Studies were screened based on the inclusion criteria of barriers and facilitators of implementation of YFSRHS, existing national policies on provision of YFSRHS, and youth’s perspectives on these services. Findings A total of 23,400 studies were identified through database search and additional 5 studies from other sources. After the full-text screening, 20 studies from 7 countries met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final review. Structural barriers were the negative attitude of health workers and their being unskilled and individual barriers included lack of knowledge among youth regarding YFSRHS. Facilitators of utilisation of the services were mostly structural in nature which included community outreaches, health education, and policy recommendations to improve implementation of the quality of health services and clinics for adolescents/youth to fit their needs and preferences. Conclusion Stakeholder interventions focusing on implementing YFSRHS should aim at intensive training of health workers and put in place quality implementation standard guidelines in clinics to offer services according to youth’s needs and preferences. In addition, educating the youth through community outreaches and health education programs for those in schools can facilitate utilisation and scale up of the service.


SAGE Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 215824401985995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kammila Naidoo ◽  
Oluwafemi Adeagbo ◽  
Melanie Pleaner

Seventeen articles make up this special collection, covering a range of different, but cross-cutting themes. These highlight contemporary concerns in African research and scholarship about the factors configuring the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). The articles interrogate contextual and cultural impediments, problematic representations, perceptions of vulnerabilities and rights, experiences of gender-based violence, coercive sex, unplanned motherhood—and agency, resistance and strategic interventions. While a diverse range of issues, theories, and methodologies are evident, all the articles reflect on how the circumstances of young women in Africa can be effectively improved to engender empowerment, good health, and personal and sexual autonomy.


2010 ◽  
pp. 143-170
Author(s):  
Riikka Shemeikka

Finland is one of the donor countries that is most supportive in family planning (FP), Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and gender issues. This study examines Finnish ODA for FP and SRHR: its decision-making structure, other stakeholders and funding levels. Data consists of documents from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) and interviews conducted at the MFA and with other experts. While Parliament decides on the overall level of ODA funding, the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development has considerable autonomy. Other stakeholders such as the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Population and Development and the Family Federation of Finland (Vestliitto) engage in advocacy work and have influenced development policy. Although the Development Policy 2007 mentions the importance of health and SRHR issues and HIV/AIDS is a cross-cutting issue, interviewees stated that the importance of health and SRHR in ODA has declined and that the implementation of cross-cutting issues is challenging. Multilateral funding for UNFPA, UNAIDS and GFATM, and thus the proportion of SRHR funding within the health sector, is however currently rising. Funding for population-related activities has increased and represented 4.8% of Finlands total ODA in 2009. Almost all of this funding is directed towards basic reproductive health and HIV/AIDS issues and the majority is directed through multilateral channels (78% in 2009), mainly UNFPA and UNAIDS. IPPF, Ipas and Marie Stopes International also receive support.


2013 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 32-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatch W. Kalembo ◽  
Maggie Zgambo ◽  
Du Yukai

Background: The objective of this review was to explore and identify feasible, socially acceptable and effective adolescent sexual and reproductive health education (ASRHE) programs in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods: Four databases were searched to identify studies conducted within the past 15 years which evaluate the effectiveness of ASRHE programs in sub-Saharan Africa. The databases searched were Embase, Medline, CINAHL, PyscINFO. A further search for relevant articles was made in the Google scholar website. The title and abstract of each article were analyzed for relevance by applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Further scrutiny and extraction of the studies was completed by selecting only those studies which met the criteria for inclusion. Results: Fifteen studies were identified. School, peer, mass media, health facility and community based ASRHE programs showed positive impact in one or more of the following outcomes in adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: ( i) knowledge of HIV transmission; (ii) perceived personal risk of contracting HIV/ AIDS; (iii) self-efficacy to negotiate condom use; (iv) discussion with others about HIV/AIDS or condom use; (v) abstinence from sexual relations; (vi) reduction in high-risk sexual behavior; (vii) condom use (vii) testing for sexually transmitted infection (STI) and (viii) treatment seeking behavior. Conclusion: ASRHE programs of diverse forms can produce positive change in adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH). There is need for rigorous research to assess long term behavioral effects of culturally tailored comprehensive ASRHE programs in sub-Saharan Africa.


2005 ◽  

Focusing on international health issues in adolescent medicine, this issue of Adolescent Medicine: State of the Art Reviews is a stand-alone reference and practice tool with evidence-based reviews that detail advances in the diagnosis and management of a wide range of health problems affecting adolescents. Topics in International Health Issues in Adolescents include "Adolescent Health in an International Context: The Challenge of Sexual and Reproductive Health in Sub-Saharan Africa," "Poverty and Inequity in Adolescent Health," "Obesity and Nutrition in Adolescents," "Adolescent Substance Abuse: An International Perspective," "Burden of Non-sexually Transmitted Infections on Adolescent Health and Development in the Developing World," "Addressing Ethical Dilemmas in the Clinical Care of Adolescents: An International View," "Children, Adolescents, and War: The Systematic Engagement of Youth in Collective Violence," "Chronic Illness and Disability in Adolescents: An International Perspective," "Culture and Youth Development," "A Global Perspective of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health: Context Matters," and "The Mongolia Experience: Transitioning Within Transition."


Author(s):  
Saiqa Mullick ◽  
Melanie Pleaner ◽  
Mopo Radebe ◽  
Chelsea Morroni

This chapter provides a high level overview of key sexual and reproductive health (SRH) issues in adolescent health with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. The chapter begins by providing an overview of key targets and definitions relating to adolescent SRH and then goes on to describe the heterogenous nature of SRH needs of adolescents, highlighting their often overlapping and multiple needs as well as challenges and barriers to access. The chapter then provides a synopsis of selected SRH issues, including prevalence and public health relevance, as well as a summary of evidence-based interventions. The chapter ends with controversies and challenges, as well as recommendations for future areas for research. It should be read in conjunction with Chapter 31 on HIV in adolescents.


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