4 research outputs found
Factors influencing the re-engagement of school dropout adolescent girls into the education system following the enactment of the re-entry policy in Zambia : a qualitative study
No full textIntroduction: Globally, adolescent pregnancy and marriage contribute to high school dropout rates. Girls who drop out of school early tend to have poorer health indicators than those who continue their education. In 1997, the government of Zambia, through the Ministry of Education, introduced the Re-entry Policy to facilitate adolescent girls who had dropped out of school to continue their education. However, since this policy enactment, there has not been any formal study to explore the facilitators and challenges of its implementation. This study explored factors influencing the re-engagement of school dropout girls into the education system following the enactment of the Re-entry Policy in Zambia. Methods: This was a qualitative study conducted in three priority districts in Zambia between September and October 2022. We conducted 26 key informant interviews with officials from the district government department, implementing partners, community members, and parent-teacher association representatives, 14 in-depth interviews, and 5 focus-group discussions with girls who re-engaged into the education system and those who had not returned to school. Data were collected on the reasons why girls had dropped out, facilitators of their re-engagement, and challenges experienced during and/or after the re-engagement process. Data analysis was conducted using a reflexive thematic analysis approach, following a structured coding process. Results: Factors influencing girls to drop out of school included socioeconomic constraints, gender roles and inequality, long distances to schools, and inadequate and unsafe boarding facilities. Conversely, factors facilitating girls’ return to school included the recognition of the value of education as a means for achieving personal development, a supportive policy environment, educational sponsorships, the engagement of community and traditional leadership in ending child marriages. However, the challenges for re-engaging girls back to school included limited comprehensive sponsorship and funding opportunities, limited implementing partners funding opportunities for girls to stay in school, and inadequate community awareness of the Re-entry Policy. Suggested strategies to address the challenges that girls face in re-engaging them back to school included an expansion of existing limited school infrastructure and increased implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in schools. Conclusion: Socioeconomic, cultural, and structural factors rank among the major challenges that limit girls’ re-entry and retention in the school system. Therefore, increasing resources and opportunities for scholarships, expanding school infrastructure, and engaging stakeholders to improve access to and delivery of quality education are essential measures to enable girls to attain their educational potential. Policy Implications: The findings highlight the need for strengthening existing policies to address socioeconomic constraints, gender inequality, and unsafe boarding to reduce dropout rates. Additionally, increasing educational sponsorship, community awareness of the Re-entry Policy, community leadership, and parents’ involvement in preventing child pregnancies and marriages is essential. Finally, the government should expand the school infrastructure, strengthen the implementation of CSE to facilitate overcoming the current challenges, and support girls’ return to school for social development.Errata: Chavula, M.P., Habib, B., Halwiindi, H. et al. Correction to: Factors Influencing the Re-engagement of School Dropout Adolescent Girls into the Education System Following the Enactment of the Re-entry Policy in Zambia: A Qualitative Study. Sex Res Soc Policy (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13178-025-01144-1</p
HIV, syphilis and sexual-risk behaviours’ prevalence among in-and out-of-school adolescent girls and young women in Zambia: A cross-sectional survey study
No full textExploring the barriers, facilitators, and opportunities to enhance uptake of sexual and reproductive health, HIV and GBV services among adolescent girls and young women in Zambia : a qualitative study
No full textIntroduction: Adolescents and young women in low-middle-income countries face obstacles to accessing HIV, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH), and related Gender-Based Violence (GBV) services. This paper presents facilitators, opportunities, and barriers to enhance uptake of HIV, GBV, and SRH services among Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in selected districts in Zambia. Methods: This study was conducted in Chongwe, Mazabuka, and Mongu Districts among adolescent girls and young women in Zambia. Key informants (n = 29) and in and out-of-school adolescents and young people (n = 25) were interviewed. Purposive sampling was used to select and recruit the study participants. Interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a content analysis approach was used for analysis. Results: The facilitators that were used to enhance the uptake of services included having access to health education information on comprehensive adolescent HIV and gender-based violence services. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) were the main source of this information. The opportunities bordered on the availability of integrated approaches to service delivery and strengthened community and health center linkages with referrals for specialised services. However, the researchers noted some barriers at individual, community, and health system levels. Refusal or delay to seek the services, fear of side effects associated with contraceptives, and long distance to the health facility affected the uptake of services. Social stigma and cultural beliefs also influenced the understanding and use of the available services in the community. Health systems barriers were; inadequate infrastructure, low staffing levels, limited capacity of staff to provide all the services, age and gender of providers, and lack of commodities and specialised services. Conclusion: The researchers acknowledge facilitators and opportunities that enhance the uptake of HIV, GBV, and SRH services. However, failure to address barriers at the individual and health systems level always negatively impacts the uptake of known and effective interventions. They propose that programme managers exploit the identified opportunities to enhance uptake of these services for the young population
An evaluation of a provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling (PITC) intervention for patients with sexually transmitted infections in Cape Town, South Africa
No full textThe objectives of the study were to assess the impact of a PITC intervention on HIV test uptake rates and on access to HIV care, to evaluate the extent to which ethical principles were upheld in its implementation, and to examine the influence of implementation factors on the intervention
