Citation

Bernays S, Bukenya D, Thompson C, Ssembajja F, Seeley J. Childhood 2018; 25(1): 19-33.

Affiliation

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK; Medical Research Council/Uganda Virus Research Institute, Uganda.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0907568217732119

PMID

29472746

PMCID

PMC5802539

Abstract

The behaviour of adolescents is recognised increasingly as having substantial and long-term consequences for their health. We examined the meaning of 'adolescence' in southern Uganda with HIV-positive young people aged 11-24 years. Adolescent girls and boys are described differently in the local language (Luganda). Adolescence is described as a behavioural rather than a life course category and an inherently dangerous one. The practices, risks and consequences of 'adolescent' behaviour are highly gendered. Local understandings of adolescence are likely to have a significant impact on the efficacy of interventions designed to minimise their 'risky behaviour'.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescence; qualitative research; sexual health; sub-Saharan Africa