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

Jocelyn E. Finlay, Nega Assefa, Mary Mwanyika-Sando, Yadeta Dessie, Guy Harling, Tasiana Njau, Angela Chukwu, Ayoade Oduola, Iqbal Shah, Richard Adanu, Justine Bukenya

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

39 Citations (Scopus)

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 health – menstruation and other STIs in this study – is 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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)44-53
Number of pages10
JournalTropical Medicine and International Health
Volume25
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2020

Keywords

  • adolescent
  • knowledge
  • sexual and reproductive health
  • sub-Saharan Africa

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Sexual and reproductive health knowledge among adolescents in eight sites across sub-Saharan Africa'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this