Gender relations, sexual behaviour, and risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections among women in union in Uganda

Abstract Background Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major reproductive and public health concern, especially in the era of HIV/AIDS. This study examined the relationship between sexual empowerment and STI status of women in union (married or cohabiting) in Uganda, controlling for sexual behaviour, partner factors, and women’s background characteristics. Methods The study, based on data from the 2011 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS), analysed 1307 weighted cases of women age 15–49 in union and selected for the domestic violence module. Chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regressions were used to examine the predicators of STI status. The main explanatory variables included sexual empowerment, involvement in decision making on own health, experience of any sexual violence, condom use during last sex with most recent partner, number of lifetime partners and partner control behaviours. Sexual empowerment was measured with three indicators: a woman’s reported ability to refuse sex, ability to ask her partner to use a condom, and opinion regarding whether a woman is justified to refuse sex with her husband if he is unfaithful. Results Results show that 28 % of women in union reported STIs in the last 12 months. Sexual violence and number of lifetime partners were the strongest predictors of reporting STIs. Women’s sexual empowerment was a significant predictor of their STI status, but, surprisingly, the odds of reporting STIs were greater among women who were sexually empowered. Reporting of STIs was negatively associated with a woman’s participation in decision-making with respect to her own health, and was positively associated with experience of sexual violence, partner’s controlling behaviour, and having more than one life partner. Conclusions Our findings suggest that, with respect to STIs, sexual empowerment as measured in the study does not protect women who have sexually violent and controlling partners. Interventions promoting sexual health must effectively address negative masculine attitudes and roles that perpetuate unhealthy sexual behaviours and gender relations within marriage. It is also important to promote marital fidelity and better communication within union and to encourage women to take charge of their health jointly with their partners

Maternal employment and child nutritional status in Uganda.

Nearly half of all deaths among children under five (U5) years in low- and middle-income countries are a result of under nutrition. This study examined the relationship between maternal employment and nutrition status of U5 children in Uganda using the 2016 Uganda Demographic and Health Survey (UDHS) data. We used a weighted sample of 3531 children U5 years born to working women age 15-49. Chi-squared tests and multivariate logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between maternal employment and nutritional outcomes while adjusting for other explanatory factors. Results show that children whose mothers had secondary education had lower odds of stunting and underweight compared with children whose mothers had no formal education. Children who had normal birth weight had lower odds of stunting, wasting and being underweight compared with children with low birth weight. Children whose mothers engaged in agriculture and manual work had higher odds of stunting compared with those whose mothers engaged in professional work. Additionally, children whose mothers were employed by nonfamily members had higher odds of wasting and being underweight compared with children whose mothers were employed by family members. Other determinants of child nutritional status included region, age of the mother, and age and sex of the child. Interventions aimed at improving the nutritional status of children of employed women should promote breastfeeding and flexible conditions in workplaces, target those of low socio-economic status and promote feeding programs and mosquito net use for both mothers and children

Measuring (il)literacy in Uganda. Lessons from Census and Survey data

The Education for All Global Monitoring Report for 2006 focused on Literacy, a vital issue, yet one of the most neglected, according to the Director-General of UNESCO. Indeed, literacy rates are among the international statistics that are most questionable. In the same vein, there is no consensus on the definition of (il)literacy as it varies over time and across countries. Given that indicators are increasingly becoming critical, not only with regard to their derivation but also their place in monitoring and evaluation of national policies and that data sources are rapidly multiplying, it is important to question the measurement of (il)literacy for various data sources. How is (il)literacy measured in Uganda? What lessons can we draw from the way the indicator is measured

Measuring illiteracy in Uganda over the past decades: A reflection on available national demographic data and Indicators

International audienc

Out-of-school children in Uganda over the past decades: A reflection on available national demographic data and indicators

International audienc

Out-of-school children in Uganda over the past decades: A reflection on available national demographic data and indicators

International audienc

Additional file 1: of Gender relations, sexual behaviour, and risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections among women in union in Uganda

Dataset. (SAV 40698 kb