This article is the result of a new partnership between Women’s eNews and Cameras For Girls, a nonprofit organization that uses photography as the catalyst for gender equality in Africa. Though this partnership, aspiring female journalists in Uganda are trained by Women’s eNews’ writers and editors to expand their current photography skills to become international journalists, helping them pursue careers in what is still a male-dominated space. The purpose of this combined program to is help reduce gender inequality as well as combat poverty. Annet Namusisi is the recipient of one of the partnerships’ first fellowships.
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In many Ugandan villages traditional beliefs about menstruation persist, creating a stigma that affects girls’ education. In Gulu Township, for example, many young girls miss school while menstruating Nambi, a 15-year-old girl, not only misses school but also has little to no access to information about how to care for herself during this time. Her parents have never discussed sexual reproductive health (SRH) with her, so most of what she knows comes from friends, which is often misinformed. Due to this lack of knowledge, many girls in her class are prone to teenage pregnancies leading to a high school dropout rate.
However, Nambi credits the “Keep a Girl in School” program, provided by Watoto Church, for providing her with the knowledge and skills she needs to manage her SRH so that she is able to feel more empowered. In her village, SRH is treated as a secret that elders are afraid to discuss, and due to many misconceptions, some elders believe that educating girls about SRH will make them unruly. Further, some people in her village believe that sanitary pads are a product created by Westerners to destroy women’s fertility, so many girls instead resort to using leaves and old clothes to keep their clothing clean.
Nambi’s story reflects a broader challenge faced by many young girls in Uganda: the lack of access to comprehensive SRH education. According to the Ministry of Education’s Performance Monitoring & Accountability Report of 2020(1) (i2) , https://ghdx.healthdata.org/record/uganda-performance-monitoring-and-accountability-2020-survey-round-6-2018 one in every four girls between ages of 12 to18 drops out of school once they begin menstruating. School absence rates have also tripled from 7% to 28% during their monthly periods, a finding echoed by a 2015 UNICEF study https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000226792 (3) (i4) that noted that 1 in 10 African girls miss school during menstruation. In Uganda, this translates to roughly three -to five -days of missed school each month, contributing to lower academic performance and higher dropout rates.
The education gap not only affects girls’ physical and emotional well-being, but also has long-term implications for their futures. For example, the Ugandan Ministry of Health reported in 2019 that 25% of Ugandan girls aged 15-19 (5) (i6) had either given birth or were pregnant with their first child. Early pregnancy remains one of the leading causes of school dropout rates among girls, which can be mitigated by SRH education. A study published in The Lancet in 2020 (7) (i8) found that girls who stay in school are more likely to delay pregnancy and that girls with access to SRH education are 30% less likely to become pregnant during adolescence.
Implementing SRH education in Uganda faces several challenges. A 2017 study by Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) found that 60% of parents in rural Ugandan communities opposed SRH education in schools, fearing it would lead to promiscuity. However, the study also showed that in communities where SRH education is provided, teenage pregnancy rates dropped by 25%.
There is also a significant gap in the availability of trained educators who are equipped to teach SRH topics. Many teachers themselves may hold conservative views or lack the necessary training to effectively deliver SRH education. This results in inconsistent or incomplete information passed on to students, further perpetuating myths and misconceptions.
Another challenge is the lack of resources, particularly in rural areas. Schools may not have the necessary materials or infrastructure to support SRH education, such as private spaces for discussions, educational pamphlets, and even sanitary products for menstruating girls. This resource gap exacerbates the challenges faced by school-age girls.
Despite these challenges, several organizations in Uganda are making significant strides in promoting SRH education. Reproductive Health Uganda (RHU) is one of the leading organizations working to improve access to SRH services and information. RHU operates youth-friendly centers across the country, where young people can receive confidential counseling, access to contraceptives, and educational resources. They also work closely with schools to integrate SRH education into the curriculum providing training for teachers and educational materials tailored to the needs of young students. This collaborative approach has led to measurable improvements, with studies reporting that schools with SRH programs see a 50% improvement in retention rates for girls, particularly in rural areas.
The African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) is another key player in this space. FEMNET focuses on advocacy and policy change, pushing for the inclusion of comprehensive SRH education in national education policies. Their work highlights the importance of involving young people in discussions about their health and rights, ensuring that SRH education is not only informative but also empowering.
International organizations like UNFPA also play a significant role in supporting Uganda’s efforts to enhance SRH education by providing technical assistance for curriculum development, training for educators, and resources to support the implementation of SRH programs in schools. Their efforts particularly focus on reaching marginalized communities, where access to education and health services is often limited.
In addition to these organizations, the “Keep a Girl in School” initiative by Watoto Church is making a profound impact on the lives of young girls in Uganda. The “Keep a Girl in School” initiative has provided reusable sanitary pads to over 10,000 girls in Uganda, leading to a 60% reduction in absenteeism among girls in participating schools.
Watoto Church’s initiative also emphasizes the importance of creating supportive school environments where girls feel comfortable discussing SRH topics. By partnering with schools, they conduct workshops that both educate students and teachers about menstrual health, reproductive rights, and the importance of staying in school. This holistic approach not only improves educational outcomes for girls, but also contributes to their overall well-being and school attendance.
Incorporating SRH education in schools, coupled with the support of initiatives like “Keep a Girl in School,” has broader implications for the lives of young girls in Uganda. Access to accurate SRH information and essential resources like sanitary products help reduce the rates of adolescent pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, both of which have long-term impacts on girls’ health and future opportunities. It also plays a crucial role in empowering girls to make informed decisions about their bodies and their futures.
Moreover, SRH education and initiatives like Watoto Church’s contribute to gender equality by challenging traditional norms and empowering girls to assert their rights by equipping girls with knowledge, confidence, and necessary resources which, in turn, has a ripple effect on communities, as educated and empowered women are more likely to contribute to the social and economic development of their societies.
The journey toward comprehensive sexual reproductive health education in Uganda is ongoing, with significant progress being made despite the challenges. The efforts of organizations like RHU, FEMNET, UNFPA, and initiatives like “Keep a Girl in School” are crucial in ensuring that every young girl has the knowledge, confidence, and resources to make informed decisions about her health and future. By addressing the cultural, educational, and resource-related barriers to SRH education, Uganda can pave the way for future generations of empowered, educated, and healthy women who will drive the country’s development.
About the Author Annet Namusisi: Annet Namusisi is a journalism fellow with Women’s eNews as the result of our new partnership with Cameras For Girls, a nonprofit organization that uses photography as the catalyst for gender equality in Africa. Though this partnership, aspiring female journalists in Uganda are trained by Women’s eNews’ writers and editors to expand their current photography skills to become international journalists, helping them pursue careers in what is still a male-dominated space. The purpose of this combined program to is help reduce gender inequality as well as combat poverty. Annet Namusisi is the recipient of one of the partnerships’ first fellowships.
.DONATE TO WOMEN’S ENEWS BY CLICKING HERE!
