Violence against primary school children with disabilities in Uganda: a cross-sectional study

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Devries 2014 Good Schools disability.pdf

150 million children live with disabilities globally, and a recent systematic review found 3 to 4 times the levels of violence versus non-disabled children in high income countries. However, almost nothing is known about violence against disabled children in lower income countries. This research aims to explore the prevalence, patterns and risk factors for physical, sexual and emotional violence among disabled children attending primary school in Luwero District, Uganda.

In Uganda, disabled girls are at particular risk of violence, notably sexual violence. Schools may be a promising venue for intervention delivery. Further research on the epidemiology and prevention of violence against disabled and non-disabled children in low income countries is urgently needed.

Devries et al.: Violence against primary school
children with disabilities in Uganda: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public
Health 2014 14:1017.

Fishing Communities Policy Brief

KMCC_FINAL_Fishing_policy_brief.pdf

This Policy Brief is based on the findings of the Fishing Communities Synthesis Report. It contains  policy recommendations  on what can be done to help curb HIV rates among Ugandan fishing villages.

Fishing in Uganda provides jobs and income for over one million people. Fishing landing sites are hubs of dense local and regional sexual networks which can accelerate the spread of HIV into the wider population.

The following policy considerations need to be instituted:

•  A well-coordinated targeted government response

• Robust national data on fishing communities to inform effective HIV programming and policy

• standardised research methodologies and implementation models

• fora to share best practices and/or lessons learned

•  Raise risk perception of the dangers of HIV among fishing communities
•  Improve  access to HIV services for fishing communities

Long distance truck drivers and HIV/AIDS in Uganda: Synthesis of information and evidence to inform the response

P752_KMCC_truck_drivers_web.pdf

Long distance truck drivers are listed in the Uganda National HIV Prevention Strategy as most at risk populations (MARPs) – groups which have a higher than average risk of acquiring HIV.

 The level of HIV among long distance truck drivers is high, chiefly because their lifestyle provides many opportunities for risky sexual behaviour, and because they have limited access to HIV prevention, testing and counselling, and healthcare.

There is a need for a much larger and more coordinated effort by a wide range of organisations and groups to develop, resource, and implement policies to reduce and counter the effects of HIV/AIDS in long distance truck drivers, and to provide programmes and services. In the absence of policies, programmes and services to counter HIV/AIDS, many countries, including Uganda, will continue to be hard-hit by the epidemic, with the suffering, loss of life and falling productivity this entails.