Young people and sexual agency in rural Uganda

Abstract

This paper offers an analysis of young people's sexual agency in rural Uganda. Drawing on definitions of agency from within the international development literature, it focuses on: decision-making processes leading to young people's involvement in relationships; actions undertaken to maintain ‘secret’ relationships in contexts where young people's sexual agency is generally prohibited; transactional and gendered negotiations between young people involved within a relationship; and a range of outcomes arising from young people's sexual activity. An understanding of the dynamics and temporal nature of young people's sexual agency, and the consequences that follow from it, challenges the widely held view that young people do not know what they are doing in relation to their sexual health. This should enable practitioners to identify avenues for developing HIV prevention and sexual health programmes that are more fully based in, and driven by, the realities of young people's sexual lives.

Cet article présente une analyse de la capacité d'agir au plan sexuel chez les jeunes dans les régions rurales de l'Ouganda. En se basant sur les définitions de la capacité d'agir existant dans la littérature sur le développement international, il se concentre sur les processus de prises de décisions conduisant à l'engagement des jeunes dans des relations; les actions entreprises pour préserver des relations «secrètes» dans des contextes où la capacité de ces jeunes à agir au plan sexuel est généralement prohibée; les négociations transactionnelles et basées sur le genre entre les jeunes qui sont engagés dans une relation; et une série de conséquences de l'activité sexuelle des jeunes. Une compréhension de la dynamique, de la nature temporelle et des conséquences de la capacité d'agir au plan sexuel chez les jeunes, remet en cause l'opinion largement admise selon laquelle les jeunes ne savent pas ce qu'ils font en ce qui concerne leur santé sexuelle. Elle devrait permettre aux praticiens d'identifier des pistes d'élaboration de programmes de prévention du VIH et de santé sexuelle prenant appui sur les réalités de la vie sexuelle chez les jeunes et étant déterminés par elles, de manière plus prononcée.

En este artículo ofrecemos un análisis de las acciones sexuales de los jóvenes en zonas rurales de Uganda. Basándonos en definiciones de las acciones a partir de la bibliografía sobre desarrollo internacional, prestamos atención a los procesos de decisión que hacen que los jóvenes participen en relaciones; las medidas que toman para mantener relaciones ‘secretas’ en contextos en los que las acciones sexuales de los jóvenes están en general prohibidas; las negociaciones transaccionales y de género entre los jóvenes en una relación; y toda una serie de resultados a partir de las actividades sexuales de los jóvenes. Al comprender las dinámicas y la naturaleza temporal de las acciones sexuales de los jóvenes y las consecuencias que se derivan, se cuestiona la opinión muy extendida de que los jóvenes no saben lo que hacen en lo que respecta a su salud sexual. Esto permitiría a los interesados identificar nuevas oportunidades para desarrollar programas de prevención del virus del sida y de salud sexual que se basen y estén orientados más plenamente en las realidades de las vidas sexuales de los jóvenes.

Keywords:

• young people
• agency
• empowerment
• Uganda
• sexual health

Notes

1. Three NGO-led HIV prevention and sexual health programmes were focused upon. The first involved school-based sexual health education activities implemented by an international youth development agency, including non-formal education and life skills development and youth-led community-outreach events. The second programme was delivered by a local Ugandan NGO. Its work involved a school-based child rights club and community-based adult-led HIV prevention outreach work. A third programme was implemented by a community-based organisation and aimed to prevent and reduce the effects of sexually transmitted infections and HIV. Activities included vocational skills training, education, counselling and testing, condom distribution, community event days, community drama and post-test clubs.

2. The mix of focus groups undertaken was dependent on local delivery of the three programmes. In total, 38 focus groups were undertaken in schools (18 with boys and 20 with girls) and 14 with young people out of school (split evenly by gender).

3. Open coding involves reading through the data to increase familiarity and record ‘theoretical memos’ (Crang 1997, 186) as analytical reminders for generating ideas and making links between different data. Axial coding describes the process of linking or organising open codes into themes and sub themes. No data analysis software was used.

4. Pilplan is an oral family planning pill taken daily, Injectaplan is an injection every three months and Norplan is an implant contraceptive that lasts for up to five years.

5. Under the Penal Code in Uganda ‘defilement’ applies to all cases of sexual contact outside marriage involving girls younger than 18, regardless of consent or the age of the ‘perpetrator’. Defilement carries a death sentence, or imprisonment for 18 years with or without corporal punishment. In the research areas, defilement was often dealt with more informally. Boys were held in a local prison, living in impoverished conditions and completing heavy manual labour until a settlement fine (e.g. USh500,000–800,000, £160–270) is paid to the girl's parents.