Lessons learned from a sexual and reproductive health and rights peer education program to prevent adolescent pregnancies in high schools in Rwanda

Authors

Aimable NKURUNZIZA, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, RwandaFollow
Nadja Van Endert, University Colleges Leuven-Limburg (UCLL), Genk, Belgium
Justine Bagirisano, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda
Jean Bosco Henri Hitayezu, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda
Olive Tengera, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Rwanda College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Kigali, Rwanda
Godfrey Katende, Aga Khan UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Department

School of Nursing and Midwifery, East Africa

Abstract

Adolescent pregnancies that occur in schools remain a major public concern in Rwanda. Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) school based programs are less effective and discussing sexual health with adolescents is considered as taboo in Rwandan societies. Yet, adolescents still seek information about SRHR from their peers and research shows that peers are often incorrectly informed about SRHR topics. One of the effective strategies to reduce adolescent pregnancies in secondary schools is equipping adolescents with accurate and reliable knowledge. In 2019, we conducted our first network event with different stakeholders. The stakeholders included: school directors, head teachers, biology teachers, local political delegates, religious people among others to help gain insights into SRHR. A survey was conducted and administered to in-school adolescents in Kirehe district (S3 – S6 level, n=563) with the aim of examining adolescents’ level of knowledge and attitudes regarding SRHR. In addition, six focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted to obtain a deeper understanding of the SRHR needs and the possible contributions and content of a peer -to- peer education program (PEP). The lessons learned included: a) engaging parents in the network event and development of PEP; b) constant communication utilizing the different social media platforms, c) enhanced collaboration between the project implementers and stakeholders a facet of bottom-up approaches to expedite this project; and d) the project should have better anticipated on possible and unforeseen external barriers. Implementing a PEP in Kirehe secondary schools resulted in substantive changes such as positively transforming peer educators (PEs) and the elimination of teenage pregnancies in the selected schools. Overall, the number of PEs was not adequate to cover the number of students and anti-bullying training should have been provided to all students before the project implementation. (Afr J Reprod Health 2023; 27 [4]: 16-23).

Comments

This work was published before the author joined Aga Khan University.

Publication (Name of Journal)

African Journal of Reproductive Health/La Revue Africaine de la Santé Reproductive

DOI

10.29063/ajrh2023/v27i4.2

Recommended Citation

Nkurunziza, A., Van Endert, N., Bagirisano, J., Hitayezu, J. B. H., Tengera, O., & Katende, G. (2023). Lessons learned from a sexual and reproductive health and rights peer education program to prevent adolescent pregnancies in high schools in Rwanda. African Journal of Reproductive Health/La Revue Africaine de la Santé Reproductive, 27(4), 16-23.