Social & Institutional issues in the Adoption of School-based Technology-aided Sexual Health Education Program

Authors

  • Angella Musiimenta Mbarara University of Science and Technology, and Bishop Stuart University Kakoba

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v5i2.4654

Abstract

Objective: School-based sexual health education interventions can reach young people of diverse backgrounds and equip them with knowledge and skills for preventing themselves against HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, and live healthy and responsible lives. However, given that school-based sexual health education intervention are health projects implemented in educational settings, variety of social and institutional issues can present challenges. This study aimed to obtain rich insights into the facilitating or inhibiting mediators for the implementation of a school-based sexual health education intervention in Uganda. Method: This study conducted 16 qualitative interviews to investigate the mediators for the implementation of the school-based sexual health education intervention based on experiences of two Ugandan schools: the school which successfully completed the implementation of the intervention, and the school which abandoned the intervention half-way the implementation. Results: Rather than the technological aspects, results indicate that the implementation was strongly influenced by interplay of social and institutional mediators, which were more favourable in the “successful” school than in the “failure school”. These mediators were: perceived students’ vulnerability to HIV and unwanted pregnancies; teachers’ skills and willingness to deliver the intervention, management support; match with routine workflow, social-cultural and religious compatibility, and stakeholder involvement. Conclusion: Rather than focusing exclusively on technological aspects, experiences from this evaluation suggest the urgent need to also create social, institutional, and religious climate which are supportive of school-based computer-assisted sexual health education. Evidence-based recommendations are provided, which can guide potential replications, improvements, and policy formulation in subsequent school-based sexual health education interventions.

Author Biography

Angella Musiimenta, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, and Bishop Stuart University Kakoba

Holds a PhD in Information Systems from the University of Manchester-UK, MSc Information Systems from the University of Leed-UK, and Bachelors degree in Computer Science from Mbarara University of Science and Technology. Currently serving as a Senior Lecturer, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, and a Senior Lecturer Bishop Stuart University. I have extensive experience in ICT4D research with particular focus on health informatics research.

Downloads

Published

2013-06-30

How to Cite

Musiimenta, A. (2013). Social & Institutional issues in the Adoption of School-based Technology-aided Sexual Health Education Program. Online Journal of Public Health Informatics, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.5210/ojphi.v5i2.4654

Issue

Section

Original Articles