Dusty discos and dangerous desires: community perceptions of adolescent sexual and reproductive health risks and vulnerability and the potential role of parents in rural Mwanza, Tanzania

Type Journal Article - Culture, health & sexuality
Title Dusty discos and dangerous desires: community perceptions of adolescent sexual and reproductive health risks and vulnerability and the potential role of parents in rural Mwanza, Tanzania
Author(s)
Volume 12
Issue 3
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2010
Page numbers 279-292
URL http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/ref/10.1080/13691050903395145?scroll=top
Abstract
This paper presents villagers' assessments of young people's sexual and reproductive health vulnerability and of community-based interventions that may reduce both vulnerability and risk in rural Mwanza, Tanzania. The primary methods used were 28 group discussions and 18 in-depth interviews with representatives of various social groups in four villages. The majority of participants attributed young people's sexual and reproductive health risks to a combination of modernisation (and its impact on family and community life), socioeconomic conditions, social norms in rural/lakeshore communities and the difficulties parents and other adults face in raising adolescents in contemporary Tanzania. Community life has limited opportunities for positive development but contains many risky situations. Young and old agreed that parents have a strong influence on young people's health but are failing in their parental responsibility. Parents acknowledged the multiple influences on sexual risk behaviour. They expressed a need for knowledge and skills related to parenting so that they can address these influences both through family- and community-based strategies.

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