Sexual and reproductive health knowledge among adolescents in eight sites across sub-Saharan Africa
Date
2019-11-05
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Tropical Medicine & International Health
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.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
adolescent, sexual and reproductive health, sub-Saharan Africa, knowledge