Browsing by Author "Misinde, Cyprian"

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    Child and Household Social-Economic Vulnerability: Determinants Transition from Moderate and Critical Vulnerability Levels in Rural Uganda
    (Childhood Vulnerability Journal, 2019) Walugembe, Patrick; Wamala, Robert; Misinde, Cyprian; Larok, Rita
    The study aimed to determine the factors that affect transition from moderate and critical levels of vulnerability to improved vulnerability status. The central argument of this paper is that individual and household characteristics differ and therefore the effect of programmatic interventions on vulnerability also differs. The assessment is based on a pre and post study of a cohort of 17,484 vulnerable households from 35 districts in rural Uganda. Vulnerability transition was studied at two levels; (i) any improvement of the vulnerability score and (ii) improvement from critical level of vulnerability. The factors associated with transition from any level of vulnerability were; region, disability of the child, parenthood status, household size, age of the parent/guardian as well as participation in the activities namely; economic strengthening, child protection and access to legal services and family strengthening (p < 0.05). Similarly, the factors associated with transition from critical vulnerability were; region, disability of child, parenthood status, household size, as well as participation in the activities namely economic strengthening, child protection and legal services and family strengthening (p < 0.05). In conclusion, whereas interventions like economic strengthening, family strengthening, child protection, and food security and nutrition were associated with improved vulnerability, the characteristics of the individuals and the surrounding household characteristics play a critical role in transition from vulnerability. We conclude that interventions alone are not enough to support transition from vulnerability, but rather it is a combination and an interplay of different influences including individual and household characteristics. There is no ‘one size fits them all’ solution to child vulnerability improvement. This study highlights the need to strive for solutions that recognize the unique characteristics, needs and diversity among different vulnerable populations.
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    Child Protection and Household Vulnerability: A Longitudinal Analysis of Child Rights and Protection Amongst Vulnerable Households and their Families in Rural Uganda.
    (Canadian Journal of Children's Rights/Revue, 2018) Walugembe, Patrick; Larok, Rita; Thembo, Joshua; Wamala, Robert; Misinde, Cyprian; Nakibuuka, Noel; Nyeko, John Paul
    This article explores child protection and child rights based on four factors: child abuse, child labour, child substance abuse and child enrolment in school in the context of a vulnerable rural population. The analysis is based on a cohort of 17,848 vulnerable households and the children therein studied over a period of four years under the “sustainable comprehensive responses for vulnerable children and their families project” implemented in rural Uganda between 2011 and 2017. We find out that overall, child protection factors mentioned above improved over the four years alongside household vulnerability, but they were still unacceptably high to enable the realization of child rights in their totally. We observe that compared to the rest of the vulnerable households, the children who had experienced child abuse, used substances and alcohol and experience child labour and were targeted with child protection intervention, were more likely to transition out of vulnerability compared to the others. However, we found out that these children were less likely to be enrolled in school over the four years and were more likely to be absent from school. We conclude that poor child protection indicators amongst the vulnerable children compound their household and individual vulnerability and increase the likelihood that their basic rights will be violated. We recommend that child protection issues, and child rights specifically should be brought at the forefront of all child protection interventions.
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    Gender relations, sexual behaviour, and risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections among women in union in Uganda
    (BMC Public Health, 2016) Nankinga, Olivia; Misinde, Cyprian; Kwagala, Betty
    Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major reproductive and public health concern, especially in the era of HIV/AIDS. This study examined the relationship between sexual empowerment and STI status of women in union (married or cohabiting) in Uganda, controlling for sexual behaviour, partner factors, and women’s background characteristics. Methods: The study, based on data from the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS), analysed 1307 weighted cases of women age 15–49 in union and selected for the domestic violence module. Chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regressions were used to examine the predicators of STI status. The main explanatory variables included sexual empowerment, involvement in decision making on own health, experience of any sexual violence, condom use during last sex with most recent partner, number of lifetime partners and partner control behaviours. Sexual empowerment was measured with three indicators: a woman’s reported ability to refuse sex, ability to ask her partner to use a condom, and opinion regarding whether a woman is justified to refuse sex with her husband if he is unfaithful. Results: Results show that 28 % of women in union reported STIs in the last 12 months. Sexual violence and number of lifetime partners were the strongest predictors of reporting STIs. Women’s sexual empowerment was a significant predictor of their STI status, but, surprisingly, the odds of reporting STIs were greater among women who were sexually empowered. Reporting of STIs was negatively associated with a woman’s participation in decision-making with respect to her own health, and was positively associated with experience of sexual violence, partner’s controlling behaviour, and having more than one life partner. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that, with respect to STIs, sexual empowerment as measured in the study does not protect women who have sexually violent and controlling partners. Interventions promoting sexual health must effectively address negative masculine attitudes and roles that perpetuate unhealthy sexual behaviours and gender relations within marriage. It is also important to promote marital fidelity and better communication within union and to encourage women to take charge of their health jointly with their partners.
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    The Rights of Children with Disabilities and the Influence of Disability on Household Vulnerability: A Case of Vulnerability in Rural Uganda
    (Canadian Journal of Children's Rights/Revue, 2019) Walugembe, Patrick; Wamala, Robert; Misinde, Cyprian
    Children with disabilities experience marginalization and exclusion, leading to widespread violations of their right to education. In this study, we examine how vulnerable households with a child or parent/guardian with a disability transition out of critical vulnerability in comparison to others. Secondly, we examine disability as a determinant of school enrollment and absenteeism in these households. The assessment was made using panel data sourced from 17,848 moderately and critically vulnerable households in Uganda. We discovered that households with a child or children living with a disability were less likely to register any improvement from vulnerability, and the children were less likely to be enrolled in school and more likely to be absent from school. We conclude that disability compounds vulnerability in already vulnerable households, derails the realization of a child’s right to education, and affects household efforts to come out of vulnerability.