Overcoming barriers to inclusive education: A reproductive health awareness programme for adolescents in rural Tanzania

Abstract

Aim: To evaluate a reproductive health awareness programme for unmarried adolescent girls and boys in rural Tanzania. Methods: A pre-test–post-test research design was used to evaluate adolescents' knowledge, attitude and behaviour towards reproductive health before and after participation in a 45-minute reproductive health awareness programme. The programme was conducted using a picture drama, reproductive health materials and group discussion. Data were collected using a 23-item structured questionnaire previously used in a similar programme conducted in an urban setting in Tanzania. Results: Data were collected anonymously from 383 participants aged 11–18 years (95.6% response rate). A significant increase was observed only in the girls' mean score in the knowledge test (t=5.1, p=0.0). However, scores derived from the pre- and post-test attitude and behaviour tests showed no statistically significant differences for either girls or boys. Conclusions: As compared with the study conducted in an urban area of Tanzania using the same education programme and instrument, the impact of the programme in rural Tanzania was not as effective. Therefore, revisions must be made to the existing programme for adolescents living in rural areas, taking into account their specific culture, practices and learning needs.