Sexual and reproductive health and rights
Sexual and reproductive health and rights are fundamental to health, gender equality and the well-being of humanity. The focus of this research group is on researching the following topics: sexual and reproductive health and rights of adolescents and young adults in different contexts, sexuality education, family planning, policies, strategies and evaluation of complex interventions.
Ongoing projects
Teenage pregnancies continue to be a major global health concern worldwide. Uganda is facing a pandemic of teenage pregnancies due to the challenges that the COVID 19 pandemic has caused in the education sector. The aim of this project is to prevent repeat pregnancies among adolescents in southwestern Uganda by researching the underlying risk factors and testing a targeted, youth-friendly and age-appropriate intervention.
Specific project objectives are: 1. to assess the risks and protective factors for adolescent re-pregnancy; 2. to co-develop and test an intervention to prevent adolescent re-pregnancy; 3. to assess the feasibility, acceptability and short-term effectiveness of the pilot intervention.
Project period: 2022-2024
Project partner: Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST), Uganda
Funding: GIZ
Tuberculosis and Sexual and Reproductive Health of Women in Four African Countries.
Korri, R.; Bakuli, A.; Owolabi, O.A.; Lalashowi, J.; Azize, C.; Rassool, M.; Sathar, F.; Rachow, A.; Ivanova, O., on behalf of the TB Sequel Consortium.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 15103. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph192215103
Prevalence of and risk factors associated with HIV, Herpes Simplex Virus-type 2, Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections among 18-24 year old students attending Higher Learning Institutions in Mbeya-Tanzania.
Ruby Doryn Mcharo, Abisai Kisinda, Lilian Njovu, Miri Mcharo, Florida Mbwilo, Getrude Mihale, Beatrice Komba, Ernest Andrew, Philippe Mayaud, Arne Kroidl, Olena Ivanova, Sia Emmanueli Msuya (2022).
PLoS ONE 17(5): e0266596. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0266596
Sexual and Reproductive Health during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Results from a Cross-Sectional Online Survey in Germany.
Räuchle, J.; Briken, P.; Schröder, J.; Ivanova, O.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19, 1428. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19031428
A Cross-Sectional Quantitative Study on Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge and Access to Services of Arab and Kurdish Syrian Refugee Young Women Living in an Urban Setting in Lebanon.
Korri, R.; Froeschl, G.; Ivanova, O.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2021, 18, 9586. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18189586
Sexual and reproductive health of Syrian refugee adolescent girls: a qualitative study using focus group discussions in an urban setting in Lebanon.
Korri, R.; Hess, S.; Froeschl, G.; Ivanova, O.
Reprod Health 2021, 18, doi:10.1186/s12978-021-01178-9
How Sexuality Education Programs Have Been Evaluated in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries? A Systematic Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.
Ivanova O, Rai M, Michielsen K, Dias S.
2020 Nov;17(21). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17218183
Disclosure of HIV/AIDS status to infected children in Ghana - a north-south comparison of barriers and enablers.
Seth Christopher Yaw Appiah, Olena Ivanova, Michael Hoelscher, Inge Kroidl, Jonathan Mensah Dapaah.
Children and Youth Services Review, 2020, 105753, ISSN 0190-7409, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105753
A Qualitative Study Exploring Menstruation Experiences and Practices among Adolescent Girls Living in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda.
Kemigisha E, Rai M, Mlahagwa W, Nyakato VN, Ivanova O.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Sep 11;17(18):6613. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17186613. PMID: 32932817; PMCID: PMC7558145
International Sexual Health And REproductive health (I-SHARE) survey during COVID-19: study protocol for online national surveys and global comparative analyses.
Michielsen K, Larrson EC, Kågesten A, et al.
Sexually Transmitted Infections Published Online First: October 20, 2020. doi: 10.1136/sextrans-2020-054664
Investigating the 'C' in CSE: implementation and effectiveness of comprehensive sexuality education in the WHO European region.
Ketting E, Brockschmidt L, Ivanova O.
Sex Education, 2020, DOI: 10.1080/14681811.2020.1766435
Evaluation of a school based comprehensive sexuality education program among very young adolescents in rural Uganda.
Kemigisha, E., Bruce, K., Ivanova, O. et al.
BMC Public Health 19, 1393 (2019) doi:10.1186/s12889-019-7805-y
Process evaluation of a comprehensive sexuality education intervention in primary schools in South Western Uganda.
Kemigisha E, Ivanova O, Ruzaaza G. N., Ninsiima A. B., Kaziga R., Bruce K., Leye E., Coene G., Nyakato V. N., Michielsen K.
Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare, Volume 21, 2019. Pages 51-59. ISSN 1877-5756. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.srhc.2019.06.006
A cross-sectional mixed-methods study of sexual and reproductive health knowledge, experiences and access to services among refugee adolescent girls in the Nakivale refugee settlement, Uganda.
Ivanova O, Rai M, Mlahagwa W, Tumuhairwe J, Bakuli A, Nyakato VN, et al.
Reprod Heal 2019 161 [Internet]. 2019 Mar 19 [cited 2019 Mar 20];16(1):35
A Phenomenological Account of HIV Disclosure Experiences of Children and Adolescents from Northern and Southern Ghana.
Appiah, S.C.Y.; Kroidl, I.; Hoelscher, M.; Ivanova, O.; Dapaah, J.M.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16, 595
A Systematic Review of Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge, Experiences and Access to Services among Refugee, Migrant and Displaced Girls and Young Women in Africa.
Ivanova O, Rai M, Kemigisha E.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2018;15(8):1583. doi:10.3390/ijerph15081583
