| dc.description.abstract | The study examined the effects of social beliefs and Gender Norms on utilization of SRHE by adolescents in Lira district, in northern Uganda. Specifically looking at social and gender norms that are associated with SRHE and how all the above affect utilization of such SRHE as well as how such norms affect the empowerment of the young people. The current study was a crosssectional and it utilized a phased- mixed methods study design which comprises of focused group discussions, in depth interviews and survey-using questionnaire. The study participants included; adolescents, key informants and community members in Agweng, Aroma and Ogur sub-counties. The findings revealed that more than 80% of adolescents were aware of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Education (SRHE), but many were constrained by social, gender norms and negative public perceptions to put in practice what SHRE is all about and this was due to the sensitivity attached to SRHE as in that it is very hard to talk about it at parental level most especially with parents of opposite sex or within the community. Hence, more than 85% of adolescents opted to get SRHE from school and hospitals. Regarding social and gender norms attached to SRHE, the findings indicated that many people in the community perceive SRHE as an agent for spoiling children where they allege that talking to children about SRHE is like giving them green light to start immorality. Therefore, many have been misled with negative information, for instance that using family planning would result to abnormal child birth in future and there is generally a lot of social stigma that attached to SRHE ranging being perceived to be a prostitute when one goes to seek any information regarding say contraceptives. This has limited the knowledge of young people about SRH services and most of the youth are not using them because of stigma attached to them including the negative teachings from religions that use of family planning is a sin because it is equivalent to killing, something that has persistently resulted in the persistent increase in teenage pregnancy and other SRH related problems such as infections. Regarding how social and gender norms affect the utilization of SRHE, the findings indicated that social and gender norms affect; Adolescents’ aware about SRHE and its services, decision making on SRH issues, SRH rights and other freedoms and they also limit empowerment of women and girls as follows; 1). Access to SRHE by adolescents is affected on by socio-demographic variables such as; Age, Education, Religious, Marital status, source of income, 2). Gender norms such as taboo to talk about SRH, gender stereotypes attached to SRH and patriarchy (discriminates girls about decision and seeking SRH education). 3). Social beliefs and economic factors such as; ignorance about benefits of SRH education, economic hardships in households leads to failure to educate a girl child, parents’ occupation, low investment in girls’ education by parents due to greediness to get dowry and negative attitude about SRH among adolescents themselves 4). Public perception such as; conflicting interest about the contents of SRH education, considering SRH education as immorality and stigma attached to SRH education. However, other factors such as; lack of sensitization of girls SRH, peer pressure, low level of contraceptive available for adolescents to use, lack of information on SRH and weak implementation mechanisms on laws that aim at promoting SRHR regarding SRHE were also found to be key. However, the following recommendations were suggested in order to access to SRHE; apprehending the perpetrators who violate access to SRHE and SRHR of youth, strengthening the laws and sensitizing the public about the importance of SRHE in order to promote the SRHR | en_US |
