International Journal of Population Studies

Demand and Supply of Adolescent and Young People Sexual and Reproductive Health Services During Covid-19 in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review

2023-12-29T20:08:06+08:00

The Covid-19 pandemic and its attendant containment strategies impacted the logistics for sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services for adolescents and young people (AYP). The scoping review focused on the SRH of AYP during the Covid-19 lock down (January 2020-December 2021). The review was guided by the Arksey and O’ Malley (2005) procedure, and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Reviewer’s Manual (2020), articles published from the databases were searched. Studies revealed how discrepancies in the demand and supply of SRH services during the Covid-19 left a wide gap for AYP’s specific need, and the strategies that were adopted by countries in SSA to mitigate the effects. Countries in SSA built resilience among health providers, while AYP look for alternative to mitigate the shortage in SRH services by using alternative medicine. Evidence presented can inform efforts to ensure availability and accessibility of SRH services for AYP during future health emergency.

Social context of Intimate Partner Violence and system response during Covid-19 in Africa: A scoping review

2023-12-29T20:07:51+08:00

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global social and public health crisis entrenched in a broader social and cultural context. COVID-19 has disproportionately affected social relationships and interactions in diverse ways. This scoping review attempts to synthesize evidence on the social contexts of IPVs and system responses to covid-19 in Africa.

Methods: The scoping review followed Arksey and O' Malley (2005) approach as refined by Joana Briggs Institute (2020). All published and unpublished literature were sourced from bibliographic databases, institutional websites, and electronic libraries from January 2020 to December 2021. The search strategy was executed in three phases using multiple search techniques from the following databases: Social Science Database and Sociological Abstract (via EBSCO), Africa Journal Archive and ProQuest (Coronavirus Research Library, Middle East & Africa Collection, Psychology, Sociology and Social Science Database) and Google Scholar. In addition, we searched the World Bank e-Library, BBC portal and other relevant websites. Only the articles written in English language were screened following the Briggs (2020) recommendations. Extracted information from these sources was convergently synthesised and presented using both thematic approach and descriptive statistics were suitable.

Results: Thirteen articles met the inclusion criteria, and the results revealed a varied prevalence of IPVs. Emotional, economic and a few cases of such violence amongst minor. IPVs was an everyday reality but grew worse among some women depending on their contexts and relationships during covid-19 outbreak and the lockdown measure that was adopted. Emotional and economic violence were the most reported, while a few cases of IPVs was mentioned among minors. Response from state and non-state actors were inadequate, reactionary and less transformative to address complex emergency like covid-19 and the possible impacts on livelihoods and intimate relationships.

Measuring active aging: Development of a active aging measurement tool

2024-02-28T15:22:18+08:00

In recent years, various debates have emerged in the literature regarding the conceptualization of active aging. However, there is a lack of tools to assess active aging at the individual level. The aim of this paper is to develop a measurement tool and procedure for assessing active aging focused on an individual level, encompassing different elements of people’s lives, and providing an individual quantitative result for each person. To achieve this aim, a representative sample of 404 community-dwelling older adults (aged ≥ 60 years) from Galicia, Spain, was interviewed using a structured survey guided by a questionnaire. The tool is based on an empirically validated model of active aging, which comprises two broad categories (health and participation) as well as a measurement tool. The results presented demonstrate how a region in Spain is actively aging. The discussion highlights the potential of this tool, which integrates different approximations of the concept and underscores its importance in people’s lives.

COVID-19 and access to family planning among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review

2023-12-21T18:14:38+08:00

This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on access to family planning for women of reproductive age (defined as ages 15 – 49) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Employing a scoping review methodology, we retrieved relevant literature spanning the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 eras, drawing information from major electronic databases. Inclusion criteria required studies addressing family planning and sexual and reproductive health among women of reproductive age in SSA. This review encompassed 36 published studies, with two-thirds of these originating from the pre-COVID-19 period. The majority of the studies utilized quantitative methodology (89%). While some evidence corroborates our hypothesis regarding the impact of COVID-19 on family planning services in SSA, initial findings somewhat downplayed this impact. However, a sensitivity bias test revealed a discernible effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s access to family planning services. The results of this review hold significance for policymakers and program implementers striving to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on access to family planning services among women in SSA.

Gender symmetry: A systematic review of men’s experiences of intimate partner violence during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown

2023-12-28T19:37:55+08:00

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a public health concern. However, men’s experiences of IPV have been largely neglected in previous studies. This systematic review aimed to examine men’s experiences of IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Six online bibliographic databases were used to identify relevant published peer-reviewed journal articles and gray literature. A total of 19 journal articles and gray literature that examined the prevalence, types, and consequences of violence experienced by men during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown were extracted for review. This systematic review is anchored on the gender symmetry theory developed by Straus and Gelles. Expectedly, females were the major victims of IPV cases, but a significant number of men around the world also experienced IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. This finding suggests that evidence-based approaches that also recognize men as victims of IPV should be taken into account for minimizing such cases.

Cultural value orientation and attitudes toward workplace gender equity across generations: Insights from Delhi and National Capital region, India

2023-11-20T08:52:08+08:00

The present research aims to explore the role of Hofstede’s cultural values and conformity in shaping people’s attitudes toward workplace gender equity (WGE). Furthermore, it explores the mediating role of conformity between cultural values and WGE using the Hayes Process Macro. Results reveal that both cultural values and conformity significantly predict employees’ preference for gender equity, and conformity significantly mediates the relationship between ones’ cultural orientation and their attitudes toward gender parity. Furthermore, gender, sector, and generation-based comparisons on the aforementioned variables indicate significant differences. The study has important implications as it proffers a theoretical model that explains the various contextual factors responsible for employees’ gender-related attitudes.

Parent-adolescent communication about COVID-19 safety precautions in Nigeria: A qualitative research

2023-12-19T17:36:19+08:00

Parents remain the primary source of health information for adolescents but their discussions regarding coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) safety precautions have not been systematically explored. This study aimed to qualitatively explore the communication between parents and children regarding COVID-19 safety measures. In-depth interviews with 25 parents from different communities in Enugu State, Nigeria, were conducted. The study revealed that parents obtained information about the severity of the virus and the preventive measures from the media. Then, they persuaded their children, sometimes through threat or force and religious allegories, to comply with the preventive measures. The discussions about safety measures between parents and their children proved to be effective since the parents reported that their children obeyed the rules following their communications. Parent-adolescent communication about COVID-19 also instilled the concept of practicing basic hygiene routines into the adolescents. The implications of the parent-adolescent communication for policy and research are discussed.

Perception and acceptance readiness for COVID-19 vaccine in Nigeria

2023-12-27T19:16:23+08:00

The development of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine is widely regarded as a tremendous scientific progress. However, the level of vaccine acceptance has been a concern in Nigeria. Thus, we conducted a study to analyze the perception and acceptance readiness for COVID-19 vaccine among Nigerians, yielding analysis data that could inform policy for raising the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate. A total of 302 respondents were surveyed in this cross-sectional study to explore their perception and acceptance readiness for COVID-19 vaccine. A total score of ≤14 was considered having negative perception of COVID-19 vaccine whereas a score >14 was regarded as having positive perception. Most respondents (71.2%) had a negative perception of the vaccine. The majority of these respondents (96.7%) had not been vaccinated, out of which 46.6% claimed to be willing to take the vaccines if they were provided free of charge, while 15.1% expressed their willingness to be vaccinated even if payment was required. There was no variable associated with readiness or non-readiness to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Major reasons for non-readiness include doubt about the vaccine authenticity/safety/effectiveness (59.2%), low level of trust in the government (12.6%), and fear of side effects (10.7%). In conclusion, to boost the COVID-19 vaccine uptake in Nigeria, both governmental and non-governmental bodies should participate in continuous public engagement to assure the public that the vaccine is safe and effective.

What drives the willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in South Africa?

2023-12-27T19:16:09+08:00

The willingness to get vaccinated in South Africa is among the highest in the world, measuring at 76%. This study investigated the impact of individual risk beliefs, self-reported health status, and familiarity with someone with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the willingness to get vaccinated in South Africa. Data were obtained from the Wave 5 of the South African National Income Dynamics Study – Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression. More than 53% of the population believed that they were not at risk of COVID-19; 71.8% believed that they were in good health; and 31.6% knew someone with COVID-19. Beliefs (odds ratio [OR]: 1.287), health status (OR: 1.064), and COVID-19 case familiarity (OR: 1.034) were associated with willingness to get vaccinated. Other associations remained positive in the adjusted model. The relationship between case familiarity and willingness to get vaccinated shows that knowing someone who died of COVID-19 or suffered from the discomfort induced by the disease may drive other individuals to get vaccinated.

Use of migration and mobility data in COVID-19 response: Evidence from the East Africa Community region

2023-12-28T19:38:09+08:00

COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to unprecedented challenges to global health and mobility. A valuable lesson from this recent pandemic is that migration statistics can be relied on to illuminate the spread of an epidemic and model diffusion patterns once a highly contagious virus is detected in a country. This study reviews literature published between 2020 and 2021, giving insights into the generation and use of migration and mobility data in COVID-19 response in the East Africa Community (EAC). The reviewed studies regarding the EAC Regional COVID-19 Response Plan all point to the need for timely data, but do not specify requirements for mobility and migration statistics. Several studies featured in this review propounded innovative ways to obtain and use the data in COVID-19 modeling. The study concludes that there is potential for use of migration statistics in future pandemic response plans and recommends that the EAC mainstreams migration statistics within the pandemic response processes.

“Does a healthy man need vaccination?”: Attitudes of older adults toward COVID-19 vaccine in South-East Nigeria

2024-01-09T22:58:02+08:00

The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be impeding the progress of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal and the African Union’s Agenda 2063 in achieving optimal health and well-being for individuals, particularly older adults. Numerous older adults have succumbed to the virus, exacerbating existing global health challenges. In response, scientists worldwide have developed a vaccine to alleviate the substantial disease burden. The Nigerian government has mandated the prioritized vaccination of older adults. This study aims to investigate the attitudes of older adults toward the COVID-19 vaccine. Data were collected from 32 older adults through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Thematic analysis was employed to derive meaningful patterns from the collected data. The findings reveal a prevailing lack of awareness among older adults regarding the COVID-19 vaccine. They asserted that they perceived no need for vaccinations, asserting their current state of health. In addition, concerns were raised about potential adverse effects of the vaccine, including the onset of other illnesses. This study suggests that the Nigerian government, through its orientation agencies, undertakes comprehensive public education campaigns highlighting the importance of COVID-19 vaccine uptake.