Sexual and reproductive health knowledge among adolescents in eight sites across sub‐Saharan Africa

Abstract

objective To examine knowledge of menstruation, HIV and STIs other than HIV across eight sites in SSA to develop effective programmatic interventions enabling adolescents to achieve positive SRH as their transition to adulthood.methods We combine data from eight Health and Demographic Surveillance Sites across sub-Saharan Africa, from an adolescent-specific survey that included 7116 males and females age 10-19 years old. We provide pooled and site-specific estimates from multiple analytic models examining the how year-specific age, school attendance and work correlate with knowledge of menstruation, HIV knowledge and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) other than HIV.results Many adolescents lack knowledge of menstruation (37.3%, 95% CI 31.8, 43.1 do not know of menstruation) and STIs other than HIV (55.9%, 95% CI 50.4, 61.3 do not know of other STIs). In multivariate analysis, older age, being in school and wealth are significant positive correlates of STI knowledge. Older adolescent age, female sex and being in school are significant positive correlates of knowledge of menstruation. Knowledge of HIV is high (89.7%, 95% CI 8.3, 12.7 know of HIV) and relatively similar across adolescent age, sex, wealth and school and work attendance.conclusion Knowledge of HIV is widespread across adolescents in these communities in sub-Saharan Africa, but knowledge of other dimensions of sexual and reproductive healthmenstruation and other STIs in this studyis lacking especially for early adolescents (10-to 14-year olds). The dissemination of more comprehensive sexual and reproductive health information is needed within these and similar communities in SSA to help adolescents gain insight on how to make their own decisions towards positive adolescent sexual and reproductive health and protect them from risks. keywords adolescent, sexual and reproductive health, sub-Saharan Africa, knowledge Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): SDG 1 (no poverty), SDG 3 (good health and well-being), SDG 4 (quality education), SDG 5 (gender equity), SDG 10 (reduced inequalities), SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals) 44

HIV knowledge and associated factors among young Ethiopians: application of multilevel order logistic regression using the 2016 EDHS

“…This finding contradicts the result described by studies conducted in Nigeria, where females are more likely to have HIV-knowledge than that of the males [40]. Additionally, the study in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) uncovered that females have a positive association with having better knowledge than males [41]. Contrary to this, sex did not affect having HIV knowledge in the study done among university students in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) [42].…”

Youth underrepresentation as a barrier to sexual and reproductive healthcare access in Kasulu district, Tanzania: A qualitative thematic analysis

“…These projections present a message that youth access to health care will be an important aspect of the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage (Manyeh et al 2018). In other words, the pressure on health systems to meet the important, but currently unmet youth healthcare needs will be unescapable (Finlay et al 2020). Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is one of (if not) the most important healthcare needs of the youth.…”

Family Communication and Youth Perception on Pregnancy, Sexuality and Sex Education

“…Accordingly, it is also found that family structure is important to the development of sexual behaviour of young teenagers. For this particular research, the effect of family structure is one of the important elements to be studied in more details because the participants who are involved in this study come from two different family structures living with two-parent families and living with single-parent families (Finlay et al, 2020). Therefore, this research sought to investigate the youth's perspectives of the topic of teenage pregnancy and sexuality, as well as to investigate the current educational efforts to teach sexuality to youths in schools, and the influence of family structure on youth perception of teenage pregnancy, sexuality and sex education.…”