Ethnographic understandings of sexual and reproductive health and HIV care for adolescents in Blantyre, Malawi

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care and support are provided to adolescents living with HIV, with the aim to build safer sex negotiation skills, sexual readiness and reproductive preparedness while reducing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. We consider how different s...

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Main Authors: Blessings N. Kaunda-Khangamwa, Alister Munthali, Lenore Manderson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023-12-01
Series:Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26410397.2023.2209956
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author Blessings N. Kaunda-Khangamwa
Alister Munthali
Lenore Manderson
author_facet Blessings N. Kaunda-Khangamwa
Alister Munthali
Lenore Manderson
author_sort Blessings N. Kaunda-Khangamwa
collection DOAJ
description Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) care and support are provided to adolescents living with HIV, with the aim to build safer sex negotiation skills, sexual readiness and reproductive preparedness while reducing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. We consider how different settings might either constrain or facilitate access to resources and support. Ethnographic research was conducted in Malawi in teen club clinic sessions at an enhanced antiretroviral clinic from November 2018 to June 2019. Twenty-one individual and five group interviews were conducted with young people, caregivers, and healthcare workers, and were digitally recorded, transcribed, and translated into English for thematic analysis. Drawing on socio-ecological and resilience theories, we considered the different ways in which homes, schools, teen club clinics, and community settings all functioned as interactional, relational, and transformational spaces to allow young people to talk about and receive information on sexuality and health. Young people perceived that comprehensive SRH support enhanced their knowledge, sexual readiness, and reproductive preparedness. However, their desire to reproduce at an early age complicated their adoption of safer sex negotiation skills and SRH care. Engaging and talking about SRH and related issues varied according to physical and social space, suggesting the value of multiple locations for support and resources for young people with HIV.
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series Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters
spelling doaj-art-cf0f0984154e473ca578cc751ccdeb402025-08-20T03:27:44ZengTaylor & Francis GroupSexual and Reproductive Health Matters2641-03972023-12-0131110.1080/26410397.2023.2209956Ethnographic understandings of sexual and reproductive health and HIV care for adolescents in Blantyre, MalawiBlessings N. Kaunda-Khangamwa0Alister Munthali1Lenore Manderson2Research Consultant, School of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, MAC CDAC, Blantyre, Malawi.Professor of Research, Centre for Social Research, University of Malawi, Zomba, MalawiDistinguished Professor of Public Health and Medical Anthropology, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South AfricaSexual and reproductive health (SRH) care and support are provided to adolescents living with HIV, with the aim to build safer sex negotiation skills, sexual readiness and reproductive preparedness while reducing unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. We consider how different settings might either constrain or facilitate access to resources and support. Ethnographic research was conducted in Malawi in teen club clinic sessions at an enhanced antiretroviral clinic from November 2018 to June 2019. Twenty-one individual and five group interviews were conducted with young people, caregivers, and healthcare workers, and were digitally recorded, transcribed, and translated into English for thematic analysis. Drawing on socio-ecological and resilience theories, we considered the different ways in which homes, schools, teen club clinics, and community settings all functioned as interactional, relational, and transformational spaces to allow young people to talk about and receive information on sexuality and health. Young people perceived that comprehensive SRH support enhanced their knowledge, sexual readiness, and reproductive preparedness. However, their desire to reproduce at an early age complicated their adoption of safer sex negotiation skills and SRH care. Engaging and talking about SRH and related issues varied according to physical and social space, suggesting the value of multiple locations for support and resources for young people with HIV.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26410397.2023.2209956Malawiclinicsreproductive preparednesssexual and reproductive healthsexual readinessservice use
spellingShingle Blessings N. Kaunda-Khangamwa
Alister Munthali
Lenore Manderson
Ethnographic understandings of sexual and reproductive health and HIV care for adolescents in Blantyre, Malawi
Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters
Malawi
clinics
reproductive preparedness
sexual and reproductive health
sexual readiness
service use
title Ethnographic understandings of sexual and reproductive health and HIV care for adolescents in Blantyre, Malawi
title_full Ethnographic understandings of sexual and reproductive health and HIV care for adolescents in Blantyre, Malawi
title_fullStr Ethnographic understandings of sexual and reproductive health and HIV care for adolescents in Blantyre, Malawi
title_full_unstemmed Ethnographic understandings of sexual and reproductive health and HIV care for adolescents in Blantyre, Malawi
title_short Ethnographic understandings of sexual and reproductive health and HIV care for adolescents in Blantyre, Malawi
title_sort ethnographic understandings of sexual and reproductive health and hiv care for adolescents in blantyre malawi
topic Malawi
clinics
reproductive preparedness
sexual and reproductive health
sexual readiness
service use
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/26410397.2023.2209956
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AT alistermunthali ethnographicunderstandingsofsexualandreproductivehealthandhivcareforadolescentsinblantyremalawi
AT lenoremanderson ethnographicunderstandingsofsexualandreproductivehealthandhivcareforadolescentsinblantyremalawi