Africa Medical and Behavioral Sciences Organization
In Uganda, one of the world’s longest COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns removed millions of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) from the protective social structures that schools offer; reduced their access to preventive and educational programs, food, and augmented economic hardship. Post-pandemic, many girls risk not returning to school, e.g. due to unplanned teenage pregnancy, marriage or for other social, health and/or financial reasons. More evidence is needed on the indirect impact of the societal restrictions on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and how to build back better in the wake of the pandemic.
To evaluate the impact of COVID-19 societal restrictions, including school closures, on unintended pregnancy and contraceptive use, HIV-prevention and HIV-infection and GBV among AGYW, and estimate the long-term societal cost of these restrictions in Uganda
To explore AGYW´s and other key stakeholders’ (e.g., young men, teachers, parents, community, local and religious leaders, health care professionals) understanding of factors underlying reasons for unintended pregnancies and low contraceptive use and possibly increase HIV-related risk behaviours/lower uptake of HIV-prevention during and after the pandemic
To co-design, together with AGYW, community stakeholders and health care providers, a resilient community-based/health service intervention package aiming to reduce unintended pregnancies, GBV and improve contraceptive use among AGYW Sub Aim 4. To evaluate if the intervention package can increase contraceptive use and reduce unintended pregnancies among AGYW
Empowering women: intimate partner violence and its association with unintended pregnancies, contraceptive use, and HIV infection among Ugandan women: a cross-sectional population-based study in Wakiso and Hoima districts:
Elisabet Beseran Valero, Emmanuel Kyasanku, Robert Bulamba, Philip Kato, Erinah Nabunya, Fred Nalugoda, Anna Mia Ekström, Malachi Ochieng Arunda
Global Health Action, 2025 · DOI: 10.1080/16549716.2025.2585674
Prevalence and predictors of use of long-term and short-acting reversible contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Wakiso and Hoima districts, Uganda: A cross-sectional study:
Malachi Ochieng Arunda, Babirye Mary Estellah, Carl Fredrik Sjöland, Emmanuel Kyasanku, Stephen Mugamba, Vitalis Ofumbi Olwa, Robert Bulamba, Phillip Kato, James Nkale, Fred Nalugoda ,Grace Nalwoga Kigozi, Gertrude Nakigozi, Godfrey Kigozi, Joseph Kagaayi, Deusdedit Kiwanuka, Stephen Watya, Anna Mia Ekström, Elin C. Larsson
PLOS One Global Public Health, 2023 · DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002688
Effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on unintended pregnancies among adolescent girls and young women in low- and middle-income countries: a scoping review
Lara Teresa Lüdecke, Björn Ekman, Malachi Ochieng Arunda, Robert Bulamba, Alex Daama, Anna Mia Ekström, Emmanuel Kyasanku, Elin C Larsson , James Nkale, Jesper Sundewall
Reprod Health, 2025 · DOI: 10.1186/s12978-025-02045-7
Protocol Title
Generating evidence on Impact of pandemic Social restrictions on Reproductive health among adolescent girls and young women in Uganda - Lessons learnt for better future preparedness (GIRLS)
Study Site
Wakiso and Hoima study sites
Prof. Anna Mia Ekström
Dr. Nalugoda Fred
Board Member
Elin Larsson
Co-Investigator
Malachi O. Arunda
Co-Investigator
Swedish Research Council
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