Men's perceptions of women's reproductive health in South Sudan

Mkandawire, Paul; MacPherson, Katie; Madut, Kon K.; Atari, Odwa; Rishworth, Andrea; Luginaah, Isaac

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102157

Cited by 7 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 22 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Even though the constitution of South Sudan sets the legal age of marriage at 18, there has no clear mechanism for enforcing this law is in place, as communities depend on traditions and social norms that determine girls' readiness to get married (Savicki, 2010). In this context, girls' readiness is determined by their sexual reproductive development, whereby the first period is seen as an indication that they are ready to get married regardless of their age (Mkandawire et al, 2019).…”

Section: Factors Influencing Early Marriagementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The overdependence on ethnic knowledge and traditional ways of life in these communities stems from the high rate of illiteracy among parents and community at large, as well as lack of access to health services that can issue birth certificates or records and promote healthy lifestyle (Mkandawire et al, 2019). Nonetheless, it is a common practice in ethnocultural African societies that female children from large families do not attend school to allow their male counterparts to gain education (Amadi, 2013).…”

Section: Factors Influencing Early Marriagementioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Determinants of Early Marriage and Construction of Gender Roles in South Sudan

Madut

2020

Sage Open

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This study examines socioeconomic factors that influence child marriage and gender relations in the post-independence South Sudan. Grounded Theory (GT) methodology is utilized to discuss how sociocultural construction of gender relationships and socialization can influence gender relations and equitable female and male contribution to the society. The sample consisted of 55 females and 36 males chosen at random ( n = 91), who took part either in a focus group discussion or one-on-one interview. The study covered the period from August 2015 to October 2017. The participants were drawn from four counties—Mapel, Kabu, Besselia, and Jury River—of the Wau State, in Bahr el Ghazal. Findings yielded by the GT analysis revealed that child marriage is influenced by social and economic factors and is perceived as an acceptable social norm. This practice is further complicated by the effects of everlasting conflict, poverty, and high illiteracy rate in the society.

show abstract

Section: Factors Influencing Early Marriagementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Factors Influencing Early Marriagementioning

confidence: 99%

Determinants of Early Marriage and Construction of Gender Roles in South Sudan

Madut

2020

Sage Open

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In addition to high maternal mortality, South Sudan also has very low modern contraceptive prevalence (3.9%) (FP2020, 2019). Traditionally, contraception and abortion were seen as taboo and unacceptable in South Sudan (Mkandawire et al, 2019;Palmer & Storeng, 2016). This is described as due, in part, to the social pressure to produce children, or to the need to 'replace' those lost in the conflict, produce more fighters or increase their ethnic group's population (Elmusharaf et al, 2017;Luedke & Logan, 2017;Mkandawire et al, 2019;Onyango & Mott, 2011;Sommers & Schwartz, 2011 Health, 2019aHealth, , 2019b.…”

Section: South Sudan Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Traditionally, contraception and abortion were seen as taboo and unacceptable in South Sudan (Mkandawire et al, 2019;Palmer & Storeng, 2016). This is described as due, in part, to the social pressure to produce children, or to the need to 'replace' those lost in the conflict, produce more fighters or increase their ethnic group's population (Elmusharaf et al, 2017;Luedke & Logan, 2017;Mkandawire et al, 2019;Onyango & Mott, 2011;Sommers & Schwartz, 2011 Health, 2019aHealth, , 2019b. These efforts identify contraception and post-abortion care as key pillars to reduce maternal mortality, and emphasise the need to engage with all stakeholders including community-based organisations, national and international NGOs, line ministries and communities.…”

Section: South Sudan Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Community perceptions of the impact of war on unintended pregnancy and induced abortion in Protection of Civilian sites in Juba, South Sudan

Casey

Isa²,

Mazambi³

et al. 2021

Global Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Conflict and mass displacement into Protection of Civilian (POCs) sites in South Sudan led to the breakdown of community and family structures, increasing women and girls' vulnerability to gender-based violence and exacerbating already poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. As one component of a study on post-abortion care, this study explores community perceptions of unintended pregnancy and abortion in a POC in Juba. Four focus group discussions were conducted with 36 women and married men aged 18-45 living in the POC. Although initial reactions to induced abortion were generally negative, participants discussed that unintended pregnancy and induced abortion appeared to have increased during the current conflict. Their discussion of abortion became less condemnatory as they described changes in people's situation due to war, including instability and poverty, transactional sex, disruption of marital norms, rape, and low contraceptive use. This is one of the first studies to investigate community perceptions and practices related to unintended pregnancy and abortion in South Sudan. Despite the beliefs that these are taboo topics, the discussions provide an opening to reduce abortion stigma. To ensure lasting stigma reduction, investment in women and girls to improve gender equity is needed.

show abstract

“…Hence, SRHE and MHM are very important to ensure young girls receive the practical support (e.g., sanitary menstrual materials and washing facilities) and emotional guidance (e.g., encouragement) they need to handle their monthly periods (Allotey et al, 2011). Some entrenched negative social norms about puberty might deepen stigma around SRHE and MHM, and exacerbate the sufferings of adolescent girls who are already among the most victimized in conflict regions like South Sudan (Allotey et al, 2011;Human Rights Watch, 2013;Kane et al, 2016;Mkandawire et al, 2019). Puberty has been identified (Bastien et al, 2011;Biddlecom et al, 2008;Blake et al, 2018;Kirby, 1999;World Health Organization [WHO], 2007) as a window of opportunity to reach adolescent girls and boys with appropriate SRHE before they get involved in high-risk sexual behaviors and to reduce injuries, unplanned pregnancies, and health problems such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) (Dixon-Mueller, 2010;Gallant & Maticka-Tyndale, 2004;Kirby, 2001;Sommer, 2009a).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Knowledge and Perceptions on Menstrual Hygiene Management Among School-Going Adolescent Girls in South Sudan

Atari

Tariquzzaman

Nancy³

2021

Journal of Adolescent Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This article draws on grounded theory and ethnographic fieldwork approaches and applies a political ecology of adolescent health (PEAH) framework to examine how school-going adolescent girls and their communities perceive sexual and reproductive health education (SRHE) and menstrual hygiene management (MHM) in the region. Three young girls were purposefully selected from each of 10 government-run mixed primary schools in Juba, South Sudan, as peer research evaluators (PREs) and key informants ( N = 30). Each PRE interviewed and reported on three of their peers about how they talk about and manage menstruation. The findings show that political, socioeconomic, and cultural factors do influence adolescent girls’ and their communities’ perceptions about puberty and menstruation. In general, MHM was culturally constructed, but the results show a disproportionate emphasis on social norms rather than on SRHE, which could have long-lasting health implications for adolescent girls. There is a need for all stakeholders in education to come together to better grasp and address the obstacles young girls face in their communities and school environments. There is also a need to develop relevant training materials to assist care providers and adolescent girls to openly talk about and address sexual and reproductive health issues.

show abstract

Men's perceptions of women's reproductive health in South Sudan

Cited by 7 publications

References 22 publications

Determinants of Early Marriage and Construction of Gender Roles in South Sudan

Determinants of Early Marriage and Construction of Gender Roles in South Sudan

Community perceptions of the impact of war on unintended pregnancy and induced abortion in Protection of Civilian sites in Juba, South Sudan

Knowledge and Perceptions on Menstrual Hygiene Management Among School-Going Adolescent Girls in South Sudan

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About