Ethical consideration
This study received ethical approval from the Institution Review Board of the University of Dodoma (Ref. MA.84/261/02/A/61/592). The permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Vice-Chancelor for the University of Dodoma and the Vice-Chancellor for St. John’s University of Tanzania.
Before each interview, participants received a briefing on the aim of the study, potential benefits and risks, the voluntary nature of participation, and conditions regarding anonymity and withdrawal. All participants provided written informed consent and provided verbal consent before recording. They were given adequate time to review information sheets and ask questions before consenting. The interviews were conducted by lead author LJM, a registered nurse officer, assistant lecturer, and PhD candidate at the University of Dodoma. LJM is experienced in qualitative studies and has expertise in data collection, with his PhD focusing on Sexual and Reproductive Health. This work is part of his PhD thesis.
Audio recordings were deleted after transcription, which was done anonymously and stored securely. Access to recordings was restricted to the lead author (LJM), senior author (FVM), and (SMK). Confidentiality and privacy of participants in the data were highly maintained; with the regard that this study will collect very personal information. Therefore, the use of unanimity names for participants, and masking of institution results as well as the use of confidential identification numbers were considered.
Informed Consent
- Information sheet:
Title of the study: Experiences of sexual behavior practices among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Higher learning institutions in Tanzania.
Introduction: Thank you for considering participating in this study. This work is being carried out by researchers from the University of Dodoma in Tanzania. The purpose of this study is to understand current context-specific experiences of sexual behavior practices for adolescent girls and young women. Your thoughts, opinions, and experiences will be valuable for facilitating improvements.
What will participation involve: You will be asked to meet in person at a time convenient to you, and you will be asked to participate in a one-on-one 30 to 60 30-minute interview with one of our researchers.
Risk of participation: There is minimal risk for you as no intervention is planned.
Please note that we will be discussing topics related to your sexual and reproductive health. If you decide you don’t want to participate, you will be able to withdraw at any time before, during, or after the interview. You will not have to tell us why you want to withdraw. Your name will not be linked to your responses on any public-facing materials and only study personnel will have access to your personal information. If there are any questions you do not feel comfortable answering, you will not have to provide an answer. Your participation will not influence the care you receive or the relationship you have with any healthcare professional.
Benefits of participation: This study evaluates the barriers and preferences care for adolescent girls and young women. The results will enable better understanding of how and where improvements to care can be made.
Withdrawal: You are not forced to agree to take part. Your participation is entirely voluntary. If done before, during, or within 72 hours after an interview, data collected will be deleted and excluded from analysis, and a replacement participant will be sought from the same participant group, if possible. If consent is withdrawn over 72 hours following the completion of an interview, the data provided will be retained for analysis and publication in a fully anonymized form, and no replacement participant will be sought. Data will be fully anonymized by transcribing audio recordings into note form without including identifying details.
Privacy and confidentiality: All your data, including the audio recording of the interview, will be stored securely on a designated shared drive, which is only accessible by the research team and authorized personnel.
Publication and dissemination: Results of this study will be published as academic publications and presented in academic/national/international conferences.
Complaints or concerns: In case of any concern please get in touch with the principal investigator (refer to contact details below).
Principal Investigator: Lusajo Jason ([email protected], +255716160141)
Data protection: The University of Dodoma is the data controller concerning your data, and as such will determine how your data is used in the study. The University will process your data for the research outlined above. Research is a task that is performed in the public interest.
- Consent form
I, ___________________, at this moment agree to voluntarily take part in the study titled ‘Experiences of sexual behavior practices among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in higher Learning institutions in Tanzania’.
- I understand my participation is voluntary and I do not have to take part if I do not want to
- I have been given a participant information sheet that explains the purpose of the study.
- I have fully read the participant information sheet and I have been allowed to ask questions about the study.
- I can withdraw from the study at any time – before, during, or after the interview begins.
- I will meet (either in person or online) with the interviewer at a time and place agreed upon.
- The interview will be audio recorded and later anonymously transcribed in English.
I confirm that I have read and understood the above statements and I confirm that I am happy to participate.
Availability of data and materials
Not applicable
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interest in this study.
Funding
The development of this study and the design of the study will be sponsored by the University of Dodoma
Acknowledgments
Heartfelt thanks to the staff of the University of Dodoma, St. John’s University of Tanzania, and colleagues for their contribution to this study.
Authors’ contributions
LJM contributed to the conceptualization of the study, writing the background information. FVM, SMK, and LJM contributed to the methodology of the study.
Conceptualization: Lusajo Jason Mwalukunga
Background: Lusajo Jason Mwalukunga, Fabiola Vincent Moshi
Methodology: Stephen Matthew Kibusi, Fabiola Vincent Moshi, and Lusajo Jason Mwalukunga
Supervision: Stephen Matthew Kibusif and Fabiola Vincent Moshi
Writing—original draft: Lusajo Jason Mwalukunga, Fabiola Vincent Moshi, and Stephen KibusI