Kristien Michielsen
Dados Biográficos
| ID | 281235 |
|---|---|
| NOME | Kristien Michielsen |
| PRENOMES | Kristien |
| SOBRENOME | Michielsen |
| ASSINATURA | MICHIELSEN K |
| AFILIAÇÕES | Ghent University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-4119-6770 |
| VERIFICADO | Sim |
| TOTAL DE OBRAS | 40 |
| TOTAL DE CITAÇÕES | 1 |
| TOTAL COMO AUTOR | 40 |
| TOTAL COMO EDITOR | 0 |
| PRIMEIRO ANO DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2008 |
| ANO MAIS RECENTE DE PUBLICAÇÃO | 2026 |
| ÍNDICE H | 1 |
When policy meets practice
BACKGROUND: Adolescent pregnancy remains a major public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa. In Uganda, about one in four girls becomes pregnant before age 19, a rate unchanged for more than a decade. Although national adolescent reproductive health policies broadly align with the World Health Organization Global Standards for Quality Health Care Services for Adolescents, important implementation gaps persist. This study examined how these stand…
Study Protocol
Background: While Belgium has traditionally been supportive of school-based sexuality education (SE), this seems to be changing. This shift is demonstrated by vocal protests and arson at six schools in the French-speaking part of Belgium following a law mandating 4 h of SE (September 2023), and by increased reports of parental objections during the recent Weeks of Spring Fever in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium (March 2024). This stu…
‘If her body responds then you know she wants it’
BACKGROUND: Although progress has been made, adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights (ASRHR) remain a global public health concern and continued investments are necessary. The way young people perceive, and experience sexual consent is at the centre of free and informed decision-making, a critical element of ASRHR. Nevertheless, the evidence on young people's views of sexual consent remains limited, especially in low- and middle-inco…
Fear-based parent-child sexual health communication in rural southwestern Uganda
Fear-based sexual and reproductive health communication remains widespread in Uganda, particularly in rural communities, where it is driven not only by religious, cultural, and political ideologies but also by internalised anxieties about parental failure. This study examines how fear functions as both a protective impulse and a disciplinary strategy in parent-adolescent communication in southwestern Uganda. Using community-based participatory re…
Parental involvement in school-based sexuality education in the WHO European Region
There is a major political commitment at the European Union level to providing good quality sexuality education in schools.Multiple studies in the World Health Organization (WHO) European Region have demonstrated the importance of sexuality education for the health and well-being of children and adolescents.Parents' role in providing information about sex, sexuality and relationships has also been widely recognised, though we know little about th…
Parent-child communication on sexual and reproductive health
Effective communication between parents and their children is necessary, yet it currently remains a challenge for many parents in the studied sites. Our findings complement the literature on adolescent SRH in West Africa, which shows that the parent-child relationship is of paramount importance. The study results informed the design and implementation of an intervention focused on training parents to improve their knowledge, skills and confidence…
Norms of masculinity
Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) communication between parents and children is critical for adolescent well-being but remains limited in many Sub-Saharan African contexts. This study examined how masculinity norms shape SRH communication between parents and boys in rural southwestern Uganda, where such interactions are often constrained by gender socialisation, fear-based approaches, and traditional expectations of masculinity. Using qualitat…
Gender Diversity Among Young Adolescents
This study aims to understand how gender diversity and gender attitudes are linked to the sexual well-being of young adolescents. Data was collected among 561 adolescents in secondary schools in Flanders and binary logistic regressions were performed. Gender diversity was conceptualized as gender identity, gender expression, sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation and personal gender attitudes. Whereas “like to become a wo/man” and body image w…
Process evaluation of a parent-child communication intervention for adolescent sexual and reproductive health in Uganda
The paper presented three key learnings and corresponding recommendations for future research. Firstly, implementation success was credited to meaningful community engagement which improved acceptability and uptake. Secondly, the complex influences of contextual factors highlighted the need for contextual analysis in research studies to inform intervention design. Finally, this evaluation recognised the interplay between mechanisms of impact and …
The unwritten rules and HIV
Introduction: There is increasing appreciation of the need to understand how social and structural factors shape HIV risk. The unwritten rules, also known as informal institutions or social norms, are increasingly recognized as important determinants of HIV transmission. Unfortunately, these informal institutions, especially among high-risk environments for HIV, such as social venues like bars, lodges, remain poorly understood. This study explore…
Exploring the association between perceived male attitudes and female attitudes toward the discontinuation of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in Egypt
In alignment with previous findings in the literature, women were more likely to support the discontinuation of FGM/C if they believed that men want the practice to discontinue as well and vice versa. At a higher level of secondary education however this association is less pronounced. This result concludes that the role of perceived male attitudes should be an important factor associated with female ones and studied further, and underlines the i…
Pregnant and abandoned
sponsorship: This work was supported by Enabel - The Belgian Development Agency [grant number UGA1503111] (Enabel - The Belgian Development Agency|UGA1503111)
Gendered Experiences of Parent–Child Communication on Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues
There is need for community-based interventions to improve parent-child SRH communication to address the deeply rooted cultural and gender contexts in rural south-western Uganda
Sexual satisfaction and sexual behaviors during the Covid-19 pandemic
The context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures implemented in Luxembourg affected sexual behaviors and sexual satisfaction. Sexual and reproductive health care centers and health professionals in general should take these results into consideration when providing care. Recommendations on the importance of sexual health for general wellbeing and behaviors associated with sexual satisfaction should be offered and possibilities to experience …
Level and comfort of caregiver–young adolescent communication on sexual and reproductive health
Overall, the level of SRH communication is low and varies according to the number of SRH topics. Caregivers' comfort with SRH communication with YAs was a significant correlate of SRH communication. This justifies the need for interventions that aim to improve caregivers' comfort with communicating with young adolescents about SRH
Which factors contribute to sexual well-being? A comparative study among 17 to 20 year old boys and girls in Belgium and Ecuador
Despite recognition that sexual well-being is an important part of adolescent sexual and reproductive health, a clear description of adolescent sexual well-being does not yet exist. Through six in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions with 56 young people in two distinct contexts (Belgium and Ecuador), we used the social-ecological framework to identify factors influencing adolescent sexual well-being. According to respondents, the ma…
Adults’ Perceptions on Adolescent Attitudes towards Pregnancy and Abortion in Maputo and Quelimane Cities, Mozambique
Background: In Mozambique, 76% of adolescents have been pregnant before the age of 20 years. Thus, this study explores adults’ perceptions on adolescent attitudes towards pregnancy and abortion in Maputo and Quelimane cities. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in Maputo and Quelimane, with four focus group discussions. A cross-sectional household survey was used to select adult women participants. Data were analysed applying a thematic an…
Barriers to sexuality education for children and young people with disabilities in the WHO European region
While sexuality education can support children and young people with disabilities in their sexual development and contribute to their wellbeing, challenges to its provision exist. This study identifies barriers to sexuality education for children and young people with disabilities in the WHO European Region via a scoping review of research published since 2006. Using the PRISMA-ScR Guidelines and predefined selection criteria, 14 studies were sel…
Institutional and contextual obstacles to sexuality education policy implementation in Uganda
The successful implementation of sexuality education policy for young people has been shown to depend on a sound legislative and institutional framework. This article shows that both institutional factors and contextual obstacles have impeded the implementation of sexuality education policy in Uganda. Qualitative research techniques were employed in the form of systematic document reviews and extensive field-work with 64 participants, of which 32…
Poverty, gender and reproductive justice. A qualitative study among adolescent girls in Western Uganda
Low socio-economic status has been consistently identified as a primary risk factor for sexual and reproductive health violations affecting young women. This study shows how poverty interacts with gender power relations to impact upon adolescent girls' sexual and reproductive lives in Western Uganda. Qualitative research with 147 participants was undertaken. This comprised 59 in-depth interviews and 11 focus group discussions with groups of 12-14…
The State of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
Evaluation of a school based comprehensive sexuality education program among very young adolescents in rural Uganda
NCT03669913 , registered retrospectively on September 13th, 2018
Factors Influencing Abortion Decision-Making Processes among Young Women
Background: Decision-making about if and how to terminate a pregnancy is a dilemma for young women experiencing an unwanted pregnancy. Those women are subject to sociocultural and economic barriers that limit their autonomy and make them vulnerable to pressures that influence or force decisions about abortion. Objective : The objective of this study was to explore the individual, interpersonal and environmental factors behind the abortion decisio…
Adolescents’ Sexual Wellbeing in Southwestern Uganda
Measures of sexual wellbeing and positive aspects of sexuality in the World Health Organization definition for sexual health are rarely studied and remain poorly understood, especially among adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to assess sexual wellbeing in its broad sense-i.e., body image, self-esteem, and gender equitable norms-and associated factors in young adolescents in Uganda. A cross-sectional survey of adole…
Girls Have More Challenges; They Need to Be Locked Up”
Unequal power and gender norms expose adolescent girls to higher risks of HIV, early marriages, pregnancies and coerced sex. In Uganda, almost half of the girls below the age of 18 are already married or pregnant, which poses a danger to the lives of young girls. This study explores the social construction of gender norms from early childhood, and how it influences adolescents' agency. Contrary to the mainstream theory of agency, which focuses on…
Pregnant and abandoned
sponsorship: This work was supported by Enabel - The Belgian Development Agency [grant number UGA1503111] (Enabel - The Belgian Development Agency|UGA1503111)
Reducing HIV/Aids in young people in Sub-Sahara Africa
This paper discusses the role of education in preventing HIV in children and young people in sub-Sahara Africa and presents the results of policy advisory research conducted on behalf of the Belgian Development Cooperation. The research consisted of a literature review and a field study in Rwanda. Relative to the high number of HIV prevention activities in sub-Sahara Africa, there is a limited number of scientific data on HIV risk reduction inter…
Reducing HIV/Aids in young people in Sub-Sahara Africa
This paper discusses the role of education in preventing HIV in children and young people in sub-Sahara Africa and presents the results of policy advisory research conducted on behalf of the Belgian Development Cooperation. The research consisted of a literature review and a field study in Rwanda. Relative to the high number of HIV prevention activities in sub-Sahara Africa, there is a limited number of scientific data on HIV risk reduction inter…
HIV prevention through sport
Sport has become a popular tool for HIV prevention, based on claims that it can foster life skills that are necessary to translate knowledge, attitudes and behavioural intentions into actual behaviour. Empirical evidence of the effectiveness of sport-based HIV prevention programmes is, however, sorely lacking. We therefore conducted a cross-sectional survey assessing sexual behaviour and the determinants thereof among 454 youth of the Mathare You…
HIV among out-of-school youth in Eastern and Southern Africa
The overall decline of the HIV epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa conceals how the HIV burden has shifted to fall on areas that have been more difficult to reach. This review considers out-of-school youth, a category typically eluding interventions that are school-based. Our review of descriptive studies concentrates on the most affected region, Southern and Eastern Africa, and spans the period between 2000 and 2010. Among the relatively small but in…
Effectiveness of a peer-led HIV prevention intervention in secondary schools in Rwanda
Analyzing this and other interventions, we identified several reasons for the observed limited effectiveness of peer education: 1) intervention activities (spreading information) are not tuned to objectives (changing behavior); 2) young people prefer receiving HIV information from other sources than peers; 3) outcome indicators are not adequate and the context of the relationship in which sex occurs and the context in which sex occurs is ignored.…
HIV prevention for young people in Sub-Saharan Africa
HIV prevention for young people in Sub-Saharan Africa
These conclusions and recommendations mainly affect five parties: researchers, intervention managers, evaluators, funders and scientific journal editors. Given the absence of a vaccine or a cure, the focus remains on preventing HIV transmission. By analysing existing data on the determinants of the complex sexual behaviour of young people and their causal pathways, and by gathering additional information, researchers should make unprecedented eff…
A cross-sectional study on attitudes toward gender equality, sexual behavior, positive sexual experiences, and communication about sex among sexually active and non-sexually active adolescents in Boli…
BACKGROUND: It is widely agreed upon that gender is a key aspect of sexuality however, questions remain on how gender exactly influences adolescents' sexual health. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this research was to study correlations between gender equality attitudes and sexual behavior, sexual experiences and communication about sex among sexually active and non-sexually active adolescents in 2 Latin American countries. DESIGN: In 2011, a cross-section…
The impact of education and globalization on sexual and reproductive health
The objective of this study is to qualify the relationship between sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and educational attainment in eastern and southern Africa (ESA). We hypothesize that the regional level of globalization is a moderating factor in the relationship between SRH and educational attainment. Using retrospective data from Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, and Zambia, the associations between SRH (eight indicators), educational attainment, an…
Characteristics of participants in an HIV prevention intervention for youth in Rwanda
Introduction. This paper studies determinants of participation in a peer-led school-based HIV prevention intervention in Rwanda. Methods. A baseline survey among 1071 students (mean age 17 years) assessed potential determinants of participation, while a follow-up six months in the intervention measured actual participation in the intervention. Statistical models were built using multivariate linear and multinomial regression analysis predicting o…
Characteristics of participants in an HIV prevention intervention for youth in Rwanda
Introduction. This paper studies determinants of participation in a peer-led school-based HIV prevention intervention in Rwanda. Methods. A baseline survey among 1071 students (mean age 17 years) assessed potential determinants of participation, while a follow-up six months in the intervention measured actual participation in the intervention. Statistical models were built using multivariate linear and multinomial regression analysis predicting o…
Rwandan young people's perceptions on sexuality and relationships
This study aimed to gain more insight into young Rwandans' perceptions on sex and relationships, which is essential for formulating effective sexual and reproductive health (SRH) promotion interventions. Using a 'mailbox technique', this paper studies the spontaneous thoughts of Rwandan young people on sexuality. Mailboxes were installed in five secondary schools in the Bugesera district and students were invited to write about their ideas, secre…
Implementation of an HPV vaccination program in Eldoret, Kenya
Close collaboration between teachers and health staff is crucial to obtain high HPV vaccine uptake among schoolgirls. Promotional messages should, besides providing correct information, tackle misbeliefs, address stigma and stress the priority to vaccinate all, regardless of lifestyle. Monitoring activities and continuous communication could allow for detection of rumors and unequal uptake in the community
Uptake of the human papillomavirus vaccine in Kenya
BACKGROUND: Many studies investigate HPV vaccine acceptability, applying health behavior theories to identify determinants; few include real uptake, the final variable of interest. This study investigated the utility of the Health Belief Model (HBM) in predicting HPV vaccine uptake in Kenya, focusing on the importance of promotion, probing willingness to vaccinate as precursor of uptake and exploring the added value of personal characteristics. M…
Factors Influencing Abortion Decision-Making Processes among Young Women
Background: Decision-making about if and how to terminate a pregnancy is a dilemma for young women experiencing an unwanted pregnancy. Those women are subject to sociocultural and economic barriers that limit their autonomy and make them vulnerable to pressures that influence or force decisions about abortion. Objective : The objective of this study was to explore the individual, interpersonal and environmental factors behind the abortion decisio…
Adolescents’ Sexual Wellbeing in Southwestern Uganda
Measures of sexual wellbeing and positive aspects of sexuality in the World Health Organization definition for sexual health are rarely studied and remain poorly understood, especially among adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa. The objective of this study was to assess sexual wellbeing in its broad sense-i.e., body image, self-esteem, and gender equitable norms-and associated factors in young adolescents in Uganda. A cross-sectional survey of adole…
Girls Have More Challenges; They Need to Be Locked Up”
Unequal power and gender norms expose adolescent girls to higher risks of HIV, early marriages, pregnancies and coerced sex. In Uganda, almost half of the girls below the age of 18 are already married or pregnant, which poses a danger to the lives of young girls. This study explores the social construction of gender norms from early childhood, and how it influences adolescents' agency. Contrary to the mainstream theory of agency, which focuses on…
Yeah, I’ve grown; I can’t go out anymore’
This analysis is based on data from the Global Early Adolescent Study, which aims to understand the factors that predispose young people aged 10-14 years to positive or negative health trajectories. Specifically, interview transcripts from 202 adolescents and 191 parents across six diverse urban sites (Baltimore, Ghent, Nairobi, Ile Ife, Assuit and Shanghai) were analysed to compare the perceived risks associated with entering adolescence and how…
The State of Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health
Evaluation of a school based comprehensive sexuality education program among very young adolescents in rural Uganda
NCT03669913 , registered retrospectively on September 13th, 2018
Institutional and contextual obstacles to sexuality education policy implementation in Uganda
The successful implementation of sexuality education policy for young people has been shown to depend on a sound legislative and institutional framework. This article shows that both institutional factors and contextual obstacles have impeded the implementation of sexuality education policy in Uganda. Qualitative research techniques were employed in the form of systematic document reviews and extensive field-work with 64 participants, of which 32…
Poverty, gender and reproductive justice. A qualitative study among adolescent girls in Western Uganda
Low socio-economic status has been consistently identified as a primary risk factor for sexual and reproductive health violations affecting young women. This study shows how poverty interacts with gender power relations to impact upon adolescent girls' sexual and reproductive lives in Western Uganda. Qualitative research with 147 participants was undertaken. This comprised 59 in-depth interviews and 11 focus group discussions with groups of 12-14…
Barriers to sexuality education for children and young people with disabilities in the WHO European region
While sexuality education can support children and young people with disabilities in their sexual development and contribute to their wellbeing, challenges to its provision exist. This study identifies barriers to sexuality education for children and young people with disabilities in the WHO European Region via a scoping review of research published since 2006. Using the PRISMA-ScR Guidelines and predefined selection criteria, 14 studies were sel…
Gendered Experiences of Parent–Child Communication on Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues
There is need for community-based interventions to improve parent-child SRH communication to address the deeply rooted cultural and gender contexts in rural south-western Uganda
Sexual satisfaction and sexual behaviors during the Covid-19 pandemic
The context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures implemented in Luxembourg affected sexual behaviors and sexual satisfaction. Sexual and reproductive health care centers and health professionals in general should take these results into consideration when providing care. Recommendations on the importance of sexual health for general wellbeing and behaviors associated with sexual satisfaction should be offered and possibilities to experience …
Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (33 obras) · Psychology (27 obras) · Medicine (25 obras) · Sociology (22 obras) · Population (20 obras) · Reproductive health (18 obras) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (16 obras) · Social Psychology (15 obras) · Environmental health (14 obras) · Family medicine (14 obras)