A participatory workshop series to reduce stigma associated with adolescent girls and young women accessing and using contraceptives in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.

Nearly all contraceptive services in Tanzania are free of charge. However, many adolescent girls do not seek contraception through community clinics for various reasons, including the stigma and perceived promiscuity associated with young girls who access contraception. In turn, adolescent sexual and contraceptive stigma contributes to reduced reproductive autonomy and a lack of women’s sexual empowerment. This study aims to decrease the stigma regarding contraception use among adolescent girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 20 in rural and urban Kilimanjaro. Body mapping will be used to understand the attitudes, beliefs and stigma surrounding adolescent sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and contraceptive use. This will be followed by participatory workshops targeting stigma reduction and providing SRH education. This project builds on an existing relationship between collaborators and will foster capacity building by training local researchers to continue this work independently with potential for broader, multi-site studies, as well as enhancing both institution’s impact in the global health field. Women’s empowerment regarding contraception use is currently understudied as many interventions do not target the associated stigma, therefore this novel study will strengthen the capacity of the collaborating institutions to address SRH both locally and globally.

Faculty Supervisor:

Karen Yeates

Student:

Partner:

Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Education

University:

Queen's University

Program: