Safe spaces, vocational training, and prevention programs protect young Ugandan women: findings from Uganda Youth Development Link’s DREAMS initiative for rural communities

Kasirye, Rogers; Laurenzi, Christina; Nabulya, Anna; Nakijoba, Barbara

doi:10.1080/17450128.2022.2123118

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Our results suggest that aligning HIV prevention services with the needs of AGYW who necessitate more targeted and intense approaches- such as young women who engage in resource-driven transactional relationships with older partners- are needed to deliver meaningful reductions in incidence for AGYW moving forward. Approaches may include economic empowerment for broader social asset building ( 50 ), integrated family planning and maternal health services to support the needs of adolescent mothers ( 51 ), as well as vocational training to facilitate employment and improve income ( 52 ), among others.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transactional sex and age-disparate sexual partnerships among adolescent girls and young women in Tanzania

Rucinski,

Mbita,

Atkins

et al. 2024

Front. Reprod. Health

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IntroductionAdolescent girls and young women (AGYW) continue to experience a high incidence of HIV in southern and eastern Africa, even in the context of large-scale HIV prevention interventions. In Tanzania, AGYW account for the largest proportion of new infections and have a higher risk of HIV acquisition than males of comparable age.MethodsWe used routinely collected data from the PEPFAR/USAID-funded Sauti Project, a large combination HIV prevention program, to examine the relationship between transactional sex and sex with older partners among AGYW in Tanzania (2015–2020). Out-of-school AGYW 15–24 years completed a vulnerability index and were tested for HIV. We estimated weighted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations of transactional sex (sex exchanged for money/services/gifts outside of sex work) and sex with older partners (≥5-years older, ≥10-years older) with prevalent HIV. Age cutoffs of 5 and 10 years were used to align partner age differences with age-disparate and intergenerational sex, respectively. We assessed potential synergism between exposures, and subgroup analyses explored associations among girls 15–19.ResultsSixty seven thousand three hundred fifty seven AGYW completed the vulnerability index and 14,873 had captured HIV testing records. Median age was 20 years (IQR 18–22). Transactional sex and age-disparate sex were common (35% and 28%, respectively); 13% of AGYW reported both behaviors. HIV prevalence was associated with both transactional sex (PR: 1.28; 95% CI 1.00–1.63) and age-disparate sex (PR:1.26, 95% CI 0.99–1.60). In common referent analysis, transactional sex remained strongly associated with HIV, even in the absence of age-disparate sex (PR 1.41; 95% CI 1.02–1.94).DiscussionEvidence of statistical synergism was not present, suggesting both transactional sex and age-disparate sex operate through similar pathways to increase HIV risk. Increased specificity within HIV prevention programs is needed to better meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of AGYW at high risk of HIV in Tanzania, including investment in tailored youth-friendly strategies for AGYW who have been marginalized from the current HIV response.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transactional sex and age-disparate sexual partnerships among adolescent girls and young women in Tanzania

Rucinski,

Mbita,

Atkins

et al. 2024

Front. Reprod. Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Our results suggest that aligning HIV prevention services with the needs of AGYW who necessitate more targeted and intense approaches-such as young women who engage in resource-driven transactional relationships with older partners-are needed to deliver meaningful reductions in incidence for AGYW moving forward. Approaches may include economic empowerment for broader social asset building (51), integrated family planning and maternal health services to support the needs of adolescent mothers (52), as well as vocational training to facilitate employment and improve income (53), among others.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Transactional sex and age-disparate sexual partnerships among adolescent girls and young women in Tanzania

Rucinski,

Mbita,

Atkins

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) continue to experience a high incidence of HIV in southern and eastern Africa, even in the context of large-scale HIV prevention interventions. In Tanzania, AGYW account for the largest proportion of new infections and have a higher risk of HIV acquisition than males of comparable age. We used routinely collected data from the PEPFAR/USAID-funded Sauti Project, a large combination HIV prevention program, to examine the relationship between transactional sex and sex with older partners among AGYW in Tanzania (2015-2020). Out-of-school AGYW 15-24 years completed a vulnerability index and were tested for HIV. We estimated weighted prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the associations of transactional sex (sex exchanged for money/services/gifts outside of sex work) and sex with older partners (≥5-years older, ≥10-years older) with prevalent HIV. We assessed potential synergism between exposures, and subgroup analyses explored associations among girls 15-19. 67,357 AGYW completed the vulnerability index and 14,873 had captured HIV testing records. Median age was 20 years (IQR 18-22). Transactional sex and age-disparate sex were common (35% and 28%, respectively); 13% of AGYW reported both behaviors. HIV prevalence was associated with both transactional sex (PR:1.28; 95% CI 1.00-1.63) and age-disparate sex (PR:1.26, 95% CI 0.99-1.60). In common referent analysis, transactional sex remained strongly associated with HIV, even in the absence of age-disparate sex (PR 1.41; 95% CI 1.02-1.94). Evidence of statistical synergism was not present, suggesting both transactional sex and age-disparate sex operate through similar pathways to increase HIV risk. Increased specificity within HIV prevention programs is needed to better meet the sexual and reproductive health needs of AGYW at high risk of HIV in Tanzania, including investment in tailored youth-friendly strategies for AGYW who have been marginalized from the current HIV response.

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“…Educational initiatives and vocational training are pivotal in empowering African youth, offering them the tools and skills necessary for socio-economic development. The DREAMS initiative in Uganda, led by the Uganda Youth Development Link, exemplifies this approach (Kasirye et al, 2023). This multi-component, community-based intervention, funded by the DREAMS initiative in Africa, focused on adolescent girls and young women in rural Uganda, providing vocational training alongside cognitive-behavioral preventive interventions.…”

Section: Educational Initiatives and Vocational Trainingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Community engagement and leadership development are integral to the success of African youth empowerment programs. The DREAMS initiative's approach to linking young women with existing community leaders for support and guidance is a prime example of effective community engagement (Kasirye et al, 2023). This strategy provides young women with the necessary skills and knowledge and integrates them into a supportive community network.…”

Section: Community Engagement and Leadership Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Youth empowerment in Africa: Lessons for U. S. youth development programs

Chioma Ann Udeh,

Rosita Eberechukwu Daraojimba,

Bukola A. Odulaja

et al. 2024

World J. Adv. Res. Rev.

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This scholarly investigation delves into the realm of youth empowerment in Africa, aiming to distill pivotal lessons for enhancing youth development programs in the United States. Anchored in a comparative framework, the study meticulously juxtaposes African and U.S. youth empowerment paradigms, unraveling the intricate tapestry of socio-economic, cultural, and educational dynamics that shape these programs. The study meticulously analyzes various case studies of successful youth empowerment initiatives across diverse African nations. These case studies were selected based on stringent criteria, ensuring a comprehensive representation of the continent's youth empowerment landscape. The methodology eschews statistical or fieldwork analysis, instead focusing on a critical review of existing literature and program reports to glean insights into the efficacy and impact of these initiatives. Central to the findings is the burgeoning demographic of African youth, poised as a catalyst for socio-economic transformation. Despite facing formidable challenges, the study highlights how African youth empowerment programs have triumphed in fostering educational, vocational, and community engagement outcomes. These successes offer a reservoir of strategies and insights applicable to the U.S. context, particularly in enhancing community involvement and resilience among youth. The conclusion synthesizes these insights, emphasizing the transformative potential of youth empowerment in socio-economic development. Recommendations advocate for the integration of African models into U.S. youth programs, emphasizing community-centric approaches, entrepreneurship, and technological integration. This study bridges a crucial knowledge gap and serves as a beacon for future youth empowerment strategies, both in Africa and globally. It underscores the universality of youth aspirations and the power of tailored empowerment strategies in realizing these aspirations.

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Safe spaces, vocational training, and prevention programs protect young Ugandan women: findings from Uganda Youth Development Link’s DREAMS initiative for rural communities

Cited by 3 publications

References 19 publications

Transactional sex and age-disparate sexual partnerships among adolescent girls and young women in Tanzania

Transactional sex and age-disparate sexual partnerships among adolescent girls and young women in Tanzania

Transactional sex and age-disparate sexual partnerships among adolescent girls and young women in Tanzania

Youth empowerment in Africa: Lessons for U. S. youth development programs

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