Browsing by Author "Murungi, Irene"

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    Having sex, becoming somebody: A qualitative study assessing (sexual) identity development of adolescents living with HIV/AIDS
    (Routledge, 2012) Loos, Jasna; Nöstlinger, Christiana; Murungi, Irene; Adipo, Daniel; Amimo, Brenda; Bakeera-Kitaka, Sabrina; Oluoch, Dorothy; Mboi, Phyllis; Wobudeya, Eric; Vandenhoudt, Hilde; Buvé, Anne
    A growing number of adolescents are living with HIV/AIDS. For their well-being and for prevention, age- and culturally appropriate interventions become increasingly important. This qualitative study was conducted as the first step to develop a sexual and reproductive health (SRH) intervention. The study’s objective was to assess the impact of HIV and related contextual conditions on identity formation of adolescents living with HIV/AIDS (ALH) in the domains of physical, cognitive, social, and sexual development. Data were collected using focus group discussions (FGDs). Through HIV care centers in western Kenya and Greater Kampala, Uganda, we recruited 119 ALH aged 10–19 years, 54 of their caregivers, and 55 service providers for 28 FGDs. Following analytic induction principles, data analysis showed that many ALH had grown up in HIV-affected families in poverty. They reported experiencing long histories of illness and HIV-related stigma and discrimination, affecting their self-esteem. The physical changes of puberty, fueled by effective HIV treatment, symbolized a new start in life. The cognitive changes typical for adolescence enhanced their self-esteem, resilience, and belief in the future, particularly among older adolescents. In discovering their new social identity, ALH experimented with behaviors and norms, especially related to sexuality. ALH carefully examined the contrasting sexual norms of their peers, caregivers, and service providers and balanced them when developing their own sexual identity. For many ALH, sex is the way to become a social “somebody.” For some, having sex served to cope with the emotional pains of growing up with HIV. Sexual relationships also enabled some ALH to gain financial and emotional independence. This study shows how ALH’s identity development is influenced by the individual and social consequences of HIV. Multiple factors contribute to the importance that ALH attribute to sexuality, which calls for comprehensive interventions addressing the broader context of positive living and SRH rights.
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    Sexual-risk behaviours and HIV and syphilis prevalence among in- and out-of-school adolescent girls and young women in Uganda: A cross-sectional study
    (PLoS ONE, 2021) Matovu, Joseph K. B.; Bukenya, Justine N.; Kasozi, Dickson; Kisaka, Stephens; Kisa, Rose; Nyabigambo, Agnes; Tugume, Abdulaziz; Bwanika, John B.; Mugenyi, Levicatus; Murungi, Irene; Serwadda, David; Wanyenze, Rhoda K.
    Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are at increased risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). We assessed sexual-risk behaviours and HIV and syphilis prevalence among AGYW in Uganda to inform the design of target-specific risk-reduction interventions. Methods This analysis utilizes data from 8,236 AGYW aged 10–24 years, collected in 20 districts, between July and August 2018. AGYW engaged in sexual-risk behaviour if they: a) reported a history of STIs; or b) had their sexual debut before age 15; or c) engaged in sex with 2+ partners in the past 12 months; or c) did not use or used condoms inconsistently with their most recent partners. We diagnosed HIV using DetermineTM HIV-1/2, Stat-PakTM HIV-1/2 and SD Bioline. We used SD Bioline Syphilis test kits to diagnose syphilis and Treponema Pallidum Hemagglutination Assay for confirmatory syphilis testing. Comparison of proportions was done using Chi-square (χ2) tests. Data were analysed using STATA (version 14.1). Results Of 4,488 AGYW (54.5%) that had ever had sex, 12.9% (n = 581) had their sexual debut before age 15; 19.1% (n = 858) reported a history of STIs. Of those that had ever had sex, 79.6% (n = 3,573) had sex in the 12 months preceding the survey; 75.6% (n = 2,707) with one (1) and 24.2% (n = 866) with 2+ partners. Condom use with the most recent sexual partner was low, with only 20.4% (n = 728) reporting consistent condom use while 79.6% (n = 2,842) reported inconsistent or no condom use. In-school AGYW were significantly less likely to have ever had sex (35.6% vs. 73.6%, P<0.001), to have had sexual debut before age 15 (7.7% vs. 15.5%, P<0.001) or to engage in sex with 2+ partners (5.3% vs. 15.8%,