Investigating the Implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Selected Public Schools in Samfya District, Zambia

The controversy on the usefulness of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in reducing teen pregnancy in Zambian schools raises concern among educationists and stakeholders. This study sought to investigate the implementation of CSE in selected public schools in Samfya District of Luapula province, Zambia.  The study employed a qualitative case study research design involving 27 participants who were purposively selected from three schools in the district. Data were collected using lesson observations, document analysis, semi-structured interviews and Focus Group Discussions). Data analysis was carried out using thematic analysis. The results showed that CSE is implemented in public schools through sensitization of teachers about CSE; integration of CSE into existing subjects; and the use of extra-curricular activities. However, the integration of CSE was not as comprehensive as it should be because teachers tended to focus mainly on topics bordering on human development and sexual and reproductive health, with more emphasis on abstinence, which were already part of the curriculum of the existing subjects. Other important components of CSE such as values, attitudes and skills; culture, society and human rights; sexual behaviour and relationships, were not emphasized upon because teachers, when integrating, did not use the actual CSE framework. In addition, findings suggested that teachers were not adequately trained in CSE delivery as they were just sensitized by others who attended a workshop on CSE. Furthermore, CSE was not fully integrated in extra-curricular activities. There was also no involvement of key stakeholders such as the local community in the implementation of CSE.This led to the conclusion that the implementation of CSE has not been comprehensive because of inadequate training of teachers, failure by teachers to properly integrate CSE using a CSE framework and inadequate extracurricular activities, and less community involvement. Therefore, the study recommends that guidance and counselling teachers should coordinate CSE implementation in schools. Secondly, while CSE themes are covered in other subjects as cross cutting issues, it should also be a standalone subject taught by guidance and counselling teachers. Thirdly, teachers should be adequately trained on how to integrate CSE using a CSE framework. Keywords: Comprehensive Sexuality Education, Extra-curricular activities, implementation, Integration, sensitization, public schools, Sexuality, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Teenage pregnancy DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-32-10 Publication date: November 30th 202

PARENTS’, TEACHERS’ AND HEAD-TEACHERS’ VIEWS ON ABOLISHMENT OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN SELECTED SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KASAMA URBAN OF NORTHERN ZAMBIA

The purpose of the study was to establish views of parents, teachers and head teachers on the abolishment of corporal punishment in schools. Three objectives guided the study which were; to assess parents’, teachers’ and head-teachers’ views on the authority of teachers over pupils following the abolishment of corporal punishment; to establish views of parents, teachers and head-teachers on whether loco-parentis existed among teachers following the abolishment of corporal punishment; to explore the views of parents, teachers and head-teachers on the need to incorporate parents on school disciplinary committee as a way of managing pupils’ behaviour in the school system. A descriptive design using qualitative research approach was used to conduct the study. The sample consisted 28 participants comprising 3 head teachers, 15 teachers and 10 parents from 3 selected secondary schools and communities in Kasama district. Purposive procedure was used to select parents and head-teachers while teachers were selected using simple random sampling. The study used semi-structured interviews as data collection tools. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. Major findings indicate that the authority of teachers was drastically reduced and affected by the policy. Loco parentis among teachers who taught at the day secondary schools did not exist while it existed at a boarding school due to the nature of the school. In light of these findings, the study recommended incorporation of parents on the school disciplinary committee and strengthen counselling services in schools.  Article visualizations

Economic support, education and sexual decision making among female adolescents in Zambia: a qualitative study

Background The importance of educating female adolescents has been recognized as critical to the development of any country. However, in low income countries like Zambia they often drop out of school due to poverty, early pregnancy and early marriages. Some studies indicate that economic support such as Social Cash Transfers (SCTs) can mitigate the effects of poverty on female adolescents by improving their school participation and helping postpone pregnancy and marriage. This study aimed to explore the role of economic support in influencing education and sexual decision making among female adolescents in a randomised controlled trial in Zambia. Methods The study adopted a qualitative approach. It utilized purposive and convenient sampling. Data were collected from 6 schools using 18 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) comprising 48 school-going female adolescents in grade 8 aged 14 to 17. All participants received economic support in form of SCTs and payment of school fees as part of the Research Initiative to Support the Empowerment of Girls (RISE), a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Findings suggested several benefits of the economic support for the female adolescents such as economic independence and empowerment; increased assertiveness and autonomy; reduced desire for sexual relationships with boys in exchange for cash and gifts; increased motivation for school; enhanced parental and community support for female adolescents’ education and; reduced school dropouts. However, they also experienced jealousy from those who did not benefit from the economic support. Conclusion Economic support played a significant role in influencing both educational and sexual decision making among female adolescents.publishedVersio

Understanding school dropout among adolescents in a rural site of southern Zambia

Includes bibliographical references (p. 222-233).The study of school dropout in Zambia is still in its infancy. Apart from the countrywide annual surveys conducted by the Ministry of Education, no in-depth study on school dropout seems to have been conducted. These surveys have consistently indicated that school dropout is most common among rural adolescents. Thus, this study sought to have an in-depth understanding of the factors that influenced rural adolescents to drop out of school by drawing a purposive sample of 10 dropouts, 10 parents of the dropouts, five teachers from the school attended by the dropouts in a rural site of southern Zambia

The challenge of community engagement and informed consent in rural Zambia: an example from a pilot study

Background: There is a need for empirically based research on social and ethical challenges related to informed consent processes, particularly in studies focusing on adolescent sexual and reproductive health. In a pilot study of a school-based pregnancy prevention intervention in rural Zambia, the majority of the guardians who were asked to consent to their daughters’ participation, refused. In this paper we explore the reasons behind the low participation in the pilot with particular attention to challenges related to the community engagement and informed consent process. Methods: The pilot was implemented in two schools and examined the acceptability of a package of interventions including economic support to families to keep their girls in school, pocket money for girls, youth club meetings on reproductive health, and community meetings to sensitize the community. Focus group discussions (4) were conducted with girls who participated in the pilot, boys in their class and with parents. Individual semi-structured interviews (11) were conducted with teachers, peer educators and community health workers involved in the coordination of the intervention as well as with religious and traditional leaders. Data were analyzed through thematic analysis. Results: The findings indicate that inadequate use of recognized community communication channels during the community engagement process and dissemination of information about the pilot resulted in limited understanding of the pilot concept by the community. This surfaced through uncertainty and fear that the intervention may result in loss of control over daughters, worries about why money was provided unconditionally to girls, and suspicion of links to satanism. The sense of insecurity appeared to be exacerbated by low literacy levels, poverty, fear of loss of bride wealth, perceived disregard for local perceptions of social status, and scanty trust in the actors implementing the pilot. Conclusions: Inadequate use of locally appropriate channels in the dissemination of information created room for interpretation and facilitated development of mistrust, undermining the conditions for community engagement and actual informed consent. A key lesson learnt is the importance of taking seriously the complexity of local values and structures that may impact people’s capability to consent or not consent to a study in an informed manner

Vanilla bisquits and lobola bridewealth: parallel discourses on early pregnancy and schooling in rural Zambia

Background Adolescent pregnancy is a complex socio-economic phenomenon ranking high on the global health policy agenda. Early childbearing is associated with early marriage and school drop-out, and is defined as a problem to the health and development of girls. This paper reports from formative research. The formative research aimed to explore socio-cultural and structural dynamics at work behind early pregnancy and school drop out in rural Zambia. The study findings have been used to inform a school based intervention to reduce early pregnancy (RISE: ‘Research Initiative to Support the Empowerment of Girls’). Theoretically the study is informed by social constructionism. Methods A qualitative approach was employed. Semi-structured qualitative interviews (61) and focus group discussions (7) were carried out with girls (in and out of school), boys, parents, teachers, health workers and community- and district leaders in 2014–15. Systematic text condensation was drawn upon in the analysis of the material. Results The study findings indicate that the official Zambian discourse that presents early pregnancy as a serious challenge and schooling as the prime way to confront the problem enjoy substantial support at community levels. However, a parallel discourse on fertility, early marriage and childbearing as social and economic security surfaced and was articulated by the same study participants. The latter contrasting discourse questioned schooling as the only solution to secure a girl’s future arguing that there are many reasons why early pregnancy may emerge as rational. Conclusions Grasping the complexity of local discourse is vital in planning health interventions. The present study revealed that although delayed child bearing and schooling among girls enjoyed high status and legitimacy in the study area, the social and economic context worked to reward early marriage. Interventions to reduce early pregnancies in rural Zambian communities need to fundamentally address the material constraints that condition and reinforce a culture of early childbearing

Economic support, education and sexual decision making among female adolescents in Zambia: a qualitative study

Background The importance of educating female adolescents has been recognized as critical to the development of any country. However, in low income countries like Zambia they often drop out of school due to poverty, early pregnancy and early marriages. Some studies indicate that economic support such as Social Cash Transfers (SCTs) can mitigate the effects of poverty on female adolescents by improving their school participation and helping postpone pregnancy and marriage. This study aimed to explore the role of economic support in influencing education and sexual decision making among female adolescents in a randomised controlled trial in Zambia. Methods The study adopted a qualitative approach. It utilized purposive and convenient sampling. Data were collected from 6 schools using 18 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs) comprising 48 school-going female adolescents in grade 8 aged 14 to 17. All participants received economic support in form of SCTs and payment of school fees as part of the Research Initiative to Support the Empowerment of Girls (RISE), a Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results Findings suggested several benefits of the economic support for the female adolescents such as economic independence and empowerment; increased assertiveness and autonomy; reduced desire for sexual relationships with boys in exchange for cash and gifts; increased motivation for school; enhanced parental and community support for female adolescents’ education and; reduced school dropouts. However, they also experienced jealousy from those who did not benefit from the economic support. Conclusion Economic support played a significant role in influencing both educational and sexual decision making among female adolescents

Effectiveness of a girls’ empowerment programme on early childbearing, marriage and school dropout among adolescent girls in rural Zambia: study protocol for a cluster randomized trial

Background: Adolescent pregnancies pose a risk to the young mothers and their babies. In Zambia, 35% of young girls in rural areas have given birth by the age of 18 years. Pregnancy rates are particularly high among out-of-school girls. Poverty, low enrolment in secondary school, myths and community norms all contribute to early childbearing. This protocol describes a trial aiming to measure the effect on early childbearing rates in a rural Zambian context of (1) economic support to girls and their families, and (2) combining economic support with a community intervention to enhance knowledge about sexual and reproductive health and supportive community norms. Methods/design: This cluster randomized controlled trial (CRCT) will have three arms. The clusters are rural schools with surrounding communities. Approximately 4900 girls in grade 7 in 2016 will be recruited from 157 schools in 12 districts. In one intervention arm, participating girls and their guardians will be offered cash transfers and payment of school fees. In the second intervention arm, there will be both economic support and a community intervention. The interventions will be implemented for approximately 2 years. The final survey will be 4.5 years after recruitment. The primary outcomes will be “incidence of births within 8 months of the end of the intervention period”, “incidence of births before girls’ 18th birthday” and “proportion of girls who sit for the grade 9 exam”. Final survey interviewers will be unaware of the intervention status of respondents. Analysis will be by intention-to-treat and adjusted for cluster design and confounders. Qualitative process evaluation will be conducted. Discussion: This is the first CRCT to measure the effect of combining economic support with a community intervention to prevent adolescent childbearing in a low- or middle-income country. We have designed a programme that will be sustainable and feasible to scale up. The findings will be relevant for programmes for adolescent reproductive health in Zambia and similar contexts

Lo stupore competente. Operai bresciani all'Esposizione internazionale delle industrie e del lavoro di Torino del 1911

A partire dall’Esposizione generale di Torino del 1884, si vennero organizzando anche a Brescia visite di operai. Per l’Esposizione di Torino del 1911 vennero inviati a spese della Cariplo 95 operai scelti da una commissione costituita presso la deputazione provinciale. L’Assessorato al lavoro del comune e la Camera di commercio deliberarono a loro volta di inviare dodici operai ciascuno. Torino non era certo Parigi, e gli operai selezionati qualche esperienza di esposizioni l’avevano. Tuttavia di questa spedizione sono rimaste nove memorie manoscritte che rendono bene lo stupore e la fortissima impressione riportata dai partecipanti. Questi rapporti non erano destinati alla pubblicazione e non sono stati sottoposti a revisioni redazionali, tuttavia i compilatori sapevano di dover sottostare al giudizio di una commissione giudicatrice e i testi scontano un certo conformismo retorico dal quale però si distingue molto bene la piena e sincera partecipazione al fervore che circondò per molti anni queste feste dell’innovazione e del progresso. Una appassionata meraviglia che fu comunque una osservazione competente e informata. Le relazioni mostrano anche capacità critica e acuta consapevolezza dei problemi del trasferimento tecnologico. Se le esposizioni non furono solo propaganda ideologica, come si è a lungo creduto nella riflessione storiografica, ciò può essere misurato anche dall’attenzione riflessiva di questi protagonisti minori ma a loro modo privilegiati. I bresciani del primo Novecento non erano completamente digiuni di manifestazioni espositive di qualche rilevanza. Nella stessa città si era tenuta nel 1904 un’esposizione che, seppure a carattere prevalentemente provinciale, aveva portato alla realizzazione di una cittadella effimera in Castello, incontrando un notevole successo di visitatori. Poi, nel 1909, era stata allestita l’Esposizione internazionale di applicazioni dell’elettricità e uno degli eventi collaterali era stato epocale: il Circuito aereo internazionale, il primo in Italia e il secondo in Europa

Additional file 3: of Effectiveness of a girls’ empowerment programme on early childbearing, marriage and school dropout among adolescent girls in rural Zambia: study protocol for a cluster randomized trial

Information sheet and consent form for girls aged ≥ 18 years about the Research Initiative to Support the Empowerment of Girls (RISE). (PDF 427 kb