Sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among early adolescents and young adults in Uganda: Findings from a Link Up exploratory study

Authors

Population Council

Document Type

Brief

Publication Date

2016

Abstract

The Population Council collaborated with Makerere University’s Child Health and Development Centre to conduct a study of males and females ages 10–24 to help inform future programs and policies affecting these young people. This study was conducted as part of the Link Up project, a global consortium led by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance that aims to improve the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of young vulnerable people. Results indicate that adolescents and young adults have broad gaps in their knowledge about HIV and SRHR; early adolescents fared significantly worse in these areas than their older counterparts, suggesting that few health education messages reach 10–14-year-olds. Inequitable perceptions of gender norms were typical among the young people in our study, and early adolescence presents a window of opportunity where gender-focused interventions could influence norms at a time when adolescent socialization processes are under way and before many negative health outcomes begin to manifest. Programs that target young people need to account for these developmental and experiential differences as they design their activities.

Recommended Citation

Population Council. 2016. "Sexual and reproductive health knowledge, attitudes, and practices among early adolescents and young adults in Uganda: Findings from a Link Up exploratory study," Link Up Study Brief. Washington, DC: Population Council.

DOI

10.31899/hiv7.1006

Language

English

Project

Link Up