Project Title

Reducing unintended teenage pregnancy and HIV rates in South Africa and Lesotho by involving adolescent boys: Co-design of a culturally sensitive, gender-transformative, community-based, educational intervention

Research Focus

Maternal and Child Health; Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights

Funder & Dates

Department for the Economy Global Challenge Research Fund (GCRF) Award, £35,000, July 2019 – Dec 2019

Principal Investigator or Primary Supervisor (if PhD project)

Dr Áine Aventin

Co-Investigators or additional supervisors

Prof Mark Tomlinson, Prof Maria Lohan, Prof Mike Clarke, Prof Allen Thurston, Dr Lynne Lohfeld, Mr David Grant

Research Fellow(s) or PhD Student

Dr Stephan Rabie (Stellenbosch University, South Africa); Dr Sarah Gordon (Stellenbosch University, South Africa)

Name & Institution of Collaborators

Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa 

Name of External Partner Organisations

N/A

Description of Project:

Aim; Methods; Expected Outcomes

The purpose of this study is to work with local stakeholders in Lesotho and South Africa to co-design contextually relevant versions of the evidence-based, gender-transformative If I Were Jack (JACK) intervention for use with adolescents in both countries. Study Objectives (repeated in both countries/sites):

• Convene Project Advisory Groups: Separate adolescent and community groups will be convened in each country (see below). Groups will be consulted twice during the project to decide how best to: a) engage with the broader community for a successful project; b) address culturally-sensitive issues; and c) adapt, as needed, the JACK educational pedagogies for local contexts.
• Conduct Needs Assessment: We will conduct an assessment of target population sexual and reproductive health needs and clarify contextually relevant determinants of sexual risk-taking. This will be based on a new systematic literature review and primary qualitative research (focus groups) with local adults and adolescents. Focus group participants will not be members of our advisory groups so as to ensure we draw on knowledge from a wide range of stakeholders.
• Conduct Intervention Mapping Exercise: Based on findings from the needs assessment (systematic review and focus groups) and in consultation with advisory groups, we will conduct an intervention mapping exercise. This will assess the acceptability and feasibility of the JACK components for use in these new settings and produce detailed plans for adaptation, implementation and evaluation of the original JACK into new culturally bespoke interventions. These plans will form the basis of proposals for further research funding to develop and evaluate the interventions.

Add links/URLs to external pages, e.g., study webpage, reports, publications etc.

N/A

Any other relevant information