eprintid: 10085756
rev_number: 26
eprint_status: archive
userid: 608
dir: disk0/10/08/57/56
datestamp: 2019-11-13 16:33:27
lastmod: 2021-12-06 00:48:30
status_changed: 2019-11-13 16:33:27
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
creators_name: Finlay, JE
creators_name: Assefa, N
creators_name: Mwanyika-Sando, M
creators_name: Dessie, Y
creators_name: Harling, G
creators_name: Njau, T
creators_name: Chukwu, A
creators_name: Oduola, A
creators_name: Shah, I
creators_name: Adanu, R
creators_name: Bukenya, J
title: Sexual and reproductive health knowledge among adolescents in eight sites across sub-Saharan Africa
ispublished: pub
divisions: UCL
divisions: B02
divisions: D01
note: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
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.
date: 2020-01
date_type: published
official_url: https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13332
oa_status: green
full_text_type: other
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
article_type_text: Journal Article
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 1717541
doi: 10.1111/tmi.13332
lyricists_name: Harling, Guy
lyricists_id: GHARL54
actors_name: Harling, Guy
actors_id: GHARL54
actors_role: owner
full_text_status: public
publication: Tropical Medicine & International Health
volume: 25
number: 1
pagerange: 44-53
event_location: England
citation:        Finlay, JE;    Assefa, N;    Mwanyika-Sando, M;    Dessie, Y;    Harling, G;    Njau, T;    Chukwu, A;                 ... Bukenya, J; + view all <#>        Finlay, JE;  Assefa, N;  Mwanyika-Sando, M;  Dessie, Y;  Harling, G;  Njau, T;  Chukwu, A;  Oduola, A;  Shah, I;  Adanu, R;  Bukenya, J;   - view fewer <#>    (2020)    Sexual and reproductive health knowledge among adolescents in eight sites across sub-Saharan Africa.                   Tropical Medicine & International Health , 25  (1)   pp. 44-53.    10.1111/tmi.13332 <https://doi.org/10.1111/tmi.13332>.       Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10085756/3/Harling_Sexual%20and%20reproductive%20health%20knowledge%20among%20adolescents%20in%20eight%20sites%20across%20sub-Saharan%20Africa_AAM.pdf