Socio-cultural perceptions of sexuality influencing the sexual and reproductive health of pastoral adolescent girls in Karamoja sub-region in Uganda

Abstract

Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is indispensable to individual health and well-being. SRH ushers young men and women into reproductive life and years beyond yet it is regarded as a personal matter. Issues concerning this matter are rarely addressed openly. Culture and health are intertwined and manifest through values, norms, and beliefs of the people in society. Ignoring the influence of culture on SRH undermines the effective provision of appropriate adolescent SRH services. In this paper, we explore the socio-cultural perceptions of sexuality and their influence on SRH among adolescent Karamojong girls. Using qualitative methods, data were obtained through In-Depth Interviews, Focus Group Discussions, and Key Informant Interviews involving married adolescent girls aged 15–19, elderly women, and key informants. Audios were recorded and field notes taken during interviews. Thematic data analysis was done using Atlas. ti-computer software for qualitative data analysis. Study findings revealed that culture influences the SRH of adolescent girls. Traditionally, sexual intercourse is not only allowed among the officially married but also as a sign of marital engagement. Girls are seen as a source of wealth and labour which puts them under pressure to marry at an early age. Such socio-cultural perceptions negatively impact the SRH of pastoral adolescent girls in Karamoja. Thus, understanding the socio-cultural perceptions governing sexuality among pastoral communities and creating community awareness on them is critical for the effective provision of SRH services to adolescents in traditional, vulnerable, and marginalized settings.