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The role of community leaders on adolescent HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in Mulanje, Malawi
Chancy Skenard Chimatiro
University of Malawi College of Medicine
Corresponding Author
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This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: We conducted this study to understand roles of community leaders on adolescents HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) rights in Mulanje-Malawi. We assessed how each role influence health seeking behaviour and improve SRH rights among adolescents from the local perspective.
Methods: A qualitative study approach was used. We conducted 12 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 17 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with community leaders. Purposive sampling technique was used to select study participants for both KIIs and FGDs. Random sampling technique was used to identify one Traditional Authority (TA) and 12 villages where FGDs were conducted. Inductive thematic content analysis was done guided by the study objectives to generate emerging themes.
Results: Community leaders have many roles on adolescents HIV and SRH. These roles include advisory, encouragement, regulating and restricting cultural practices, formulating bye-laws and handling sexual abuse complaints. However, community leaders with religious affiliation have shown to have different views with those representing other institutions not affiliated to religion. In addition, the majority of community leaders indicated low level of knowledge on adolescent’s SRH rights.
Conclusion: We suggest that the roles of community leaders differ depending on the position held and institution represented. Those community leaders not affiliated to religious can encourage certain behaviour in adolescents while those from religious background are discouraging it. Stakeholders involved in the fight against HIV and SRH rights should invest more on capacity building among the community leaders.
Keywords
Adolescents, community leaders, Sexual and Reproductive Health
Figure 1
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CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 2
Posted 15 May, 2020
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 04 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 03 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 03 May, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 04 Apr, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 31 Mar, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 31 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 14 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 13 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Mar, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 06 Mar, 2020
Editor assigned
On 19 Jan, 2020
Editor invited
On 18 Jan, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 17 Jan, 2020
First submitted
On 16 Jan, 2020
Metrics
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Subject Areas
Sexual & Reproductive Medicine
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This preprint is under consideration at Reproductive Health. A preprint is a preliminary version of a manuscript that has not completed peer review at a journal. Research Square does not conduct peer review prior to posting preprints. The posting of a preprint on this server should not be interpreted as an endorsement of its validity or suitability for dissemination as established information or for guiding clinical practice.
Learn more about In Review
Research
The role of community leaders on adolescent HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in Mulanje, Malawi
Chancy Skenard Chimatiro
University of Malawi College of Medicine
Corresponding Author
Badges
Prescreen
This manuscript passed our Prescreen assessment
Complete author information
Appropriate declaration statements
Potential risks to human health
Prescreen
Peer Review Timeline
CURRENT STATUS: Under Review
Version 2
Posted 15 May, 2020
No community comments so far
Editor assigned
On 04 May, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 03 May, 2020
Editor invited
On 03 May, 2020
No comments provided
Editorial decision: Major revision
On 04 Apr, 2020
Review #1 received
Received 31 Mar, 2020
Review #2 received
Received 31 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #3 agreed
On 14 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #2 agreed
On 13 Mar, 2020
Reviewer #1 agreed
On 11 Mar, 2020
Reviewers invited
Invitations sent on 06 Mar, 2020
Editor assigned
On 19 Jan, 2020
Editor invited
On 18 Jan, 2020
Submission checks complete
On 17 Jan, 2020
First submitted
On 16 Jan, 2020
Metrics
Comments: 0
PDF Downloads: ...
HTML Views: ...
Subject Areas
Sexual & Reproductive Medicine
License:
This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License. Read Full License
Background: We conducted this study to understand roles of community leaders on adolescents HIV and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) rights in Mulanje-Malawi. We assessed how each role influence health seeking behaviour and improve SRH rights among adolescents from the local perspective.
Methods: A qualitative study approach was used. We conducted 12 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and 17 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with community leaders. Purposive sampling technique was used to select study participants for both KIIs and FGDs. Random sampling technique was used to identify one Traditional Authority (TA) and 12 villages where FGDs were conducted. Inductive thematic content analysis was done guided by the study objectives to generate emerging themes.
Results: Community leaders have many roles on adolescents HIV and SRH. These roles include advisory, encouragement, regulating and restricting cultural practices, formulating bye-laws and handling sexual abuse complaints. However, community leaders with religious affiliation have shown to have different views with those representing other institutions not affiliated to religion. In addition, the majority of community leaders indicated low level of knowledge on adolescent’s SRH rights.
Conclusion: We suggest that the roles of community leaders differ depending on the position held and institution represented. Those community leaders not affiliated to religious can encourage certain behaviour in adolescents while those from religious background are discouraging it. Stakeholders involved in the fight against HIV and SRH rights should invest more on capacity building among the community leaders.
Figure 1