Browsing by Author "Moore, Ann M."

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    Adults’ Perceptions of Adolescents’ Sexual and Reproductive Health: Qualitative Evidence from Uganda
    (New York: Guttmacher Institute, 2008) Kibombo, Richard; Neema, Stella; Moore, Ann M.; Ahmed, F. Humera
    Over the past 15 years, adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) has increasingly received special attention in many African countries mainly due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic that has swept across the continent with devastating impact, particularly among young people (15–24 years old) who account for about half of all new HIV infections. However, adolescents frequently do not have access to appropriate sexual and reproductive health services due to a host of factors ranging from dysfunctional health care systems to stigma regarding seeking reproductive health care. While research has been done on adolescents’health-seeking behaviors, little is known about the attitudes and perceptions of adults who play a key role in adolescents’ lives, adolescents’ sexual behavior and access to reproductive health services. It is for this reason that the Guttmacher Institute, in collaboration with the Makerere Institute of Social Research, conducted 60 indepth interviews with parents, community leaders, teachers and health workers in one urban and one rural setting in Uganda to learn about their perceptions, attitudes and experiences of adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health issues.
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    Qualitative Evidence of Adolescents' Sexual and Reproductive Health Experiences in Uganda
    (Guttmacher Institute., 2007) Neema, Stella; Moore, Ann M.; Kibombo, Richard
    In the last decade, young people have emerged as the group with the fastest growing HIV incidence in SubSaharan Africa. Although, both HIV and adolescent pregnancy have been decreasing in Uganda over the last 15 years, HIV prevalence is still unacceptably high at 6.4%, and 25% of 15–19-year-olds in 2007 were pregnant or had already had a live birth. This report draws on 103 semistructured in-depth interviews with 12–19-year-old males and females, in school and out of school, from urban and rural areas, to learn about adolescents’ risk and protective behaviors related to HIV and unintended pregnancy. Their narratives provide important contextual information to help us understand the behaviors that adolescents employ in reaction to risks of HIV and unintended pregnancy
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    Ugandan Opinion-leaders’ Knowledge and Perceptions of Unsafe Abortion
    (Health Policy and Planning, 2014) Moore, Ann M.; Kibombo, Richard; Cats-Baril, Deva
    While laws in Uganda surrounding abortion remain contradictory, a frequent interpretation of the law is that abortion is only allowed to save the woman’s life. Nevertheless abortion occurs frequently under unsafe conditions at a rate of 54 abortions per 1000 women of reproductive age annually, taking a large toll on women’s health. There are an estimated 148,500 women in Uganda who experience abortion complications annually. Understanding opinion leaders’ knowledge and perceptions about unsafe abortion is critical to identifying ways to address this public health issue. We conducted in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 41 policy-makers, cultural leaders, local politicians and leaders within the health care sector in 2009–10 at the national as well as district (Bushenyi, Kamuli and Lira) level to explore their knowledge and perceptions of unsafe abortion and the potential for policy to address this issue. Only half of the sample knew the current law regulating abortion in Uganda. Respondents understood that the result of the current abortion restrictions included long-term health complications, unwanted children and maternal death. Perceived consequences of increasing access to safe abortion included improved health as well as overuse of abortion, marital conflict and less reliance on preventive behaviour. Opinion leaders expressed the most support for legalization of abortion in cases of rape when the perpetrator was unknown. Understanding opinion leaders’ perspectives on this politically sensitive topic provides insight into the policy context of abortion laws, drivers behind maintaining the status quo, and ways to improve provision under the law: increase education among providers and opinion leaders.