Improving Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health through a Participatory Parent-Child Communication Intervention in Uganda

  • Acronym: CPAC
  • Effective start/end date: January 01st, 2019 December 31st, 2022
  • Funder: VLIR-UOS
  • Type: Intevation Research

Overview

Uganda has a very young population and its sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes – including teenage pregnancies and HIV prevalence – remain among the poorest worldwide. While the role of parents in SRH education is key, they lack communication skills amidst cultural norms which do not provide for preventive messages regarding risky sexual behaviors.

The aim of the project is to improve young adolescents’ access to comprehensive SRH information by improving the communication capabilities of parents/guardians in rural areas. Considering the cultural sensitivity, the project employs a community-based participatory research process to develop, implement and evaluate a culturally sensitive and scientifically accurate parent-adolescent communication intervention based on formative research and literature. Furthermore, an interdisciplinary research center (both physical and virtual) on young adolescents SRH has been established at Mbarara University. The study is guided by a Community Advisory Board and recruited two Ph.D. students to work on the project.


Participants

  • Prof. Kristien Michielsen – Belgium Principal Investigator (University of Ghent)
  • Dr. Viola Nilah Nyakato – Uganda Principal Investigator (Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST)
  • Prof. Gily Ceone – Co-Investigator (Vrije Universiteit Brussel- Belgium)
  • Prof. Stella Neema – Co-Investigator - Makerere University- Uganda
  • Dr. Elizabeth Kemigisha – Co-Investigator (MUST)
  • Dr. Gad N Ruzaaza – Co-Investigator (MUST)
  • Dr. Rukundo Zari Godfrey – Co-Investigator (MUST)
  • Dr. Wendo Mlahagwa – Co-Investigator (MUST)

Partners

VLIR-OUS


Publications

Dorcus Achen1,*, Viola N. Nyakato2, Cecilia Akatukwasa3, Elizabeth Kemigisha2 [ORCID] , Wendo Mlahagwa2, Ruth Kaziga3 [ORCID] , Gad Ndaruhutse Ruzaaza4, Godfrey Z. Rukundo5 [ORCID] , Kristien Michielsen3, Stella Neema6 and Gily Coene1 . (2022) . Gendered Experiences of Parent- Child Communication on Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues: A Qualitative Study Employing Community-Based Participatory Methods among Primary Caregivers and Community Stakeholders in Rural South-Western Uganda . Environmental Research and Public Health, [online] Volume 19(9). Available at: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/19/9/5052