Viola N Nyakato
Biographic Data
| ID | 3577000 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Viola N Nyakato |
| GIVEN NAMES | Viola N |
| FAMILY NAME | Nyakato |
| SIGNATURE | NYAKATO V N |
| AFFILIATIONS | Mbarara University of Science and Technology |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-1148-9959 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 20 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 6 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 20 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2015 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Exploring community perceptions of gender roles as a predisposing factor in schistosomiasis infection in southwestern Uganda
Introduction : Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease impacts people of all genders and ages. Studies done on gender as a risk factor in schistosomiasis infection and control have not considered what the men and women in schistosomiasis endemic communities think about gender roles as a contributing factor to infection and control. We explored the perceptions of endemic farming (Kyaterekera) and fishing (Ndaiga) communities along Lake Alber…
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…
It takes a village to raise a child’
African societies have traditionally embraced communal child-rearing, where collective responsibility for children's well-being extends beyond familial ties. This ethos, rooted in the Southern African philosophy of ubuntu and the saying 'it takes a village to raise a child', remains relevant to addressing challenges such as teenage pregnancy, sexual harassment and violence while promoting girls' education. This study, conducted in south-western U…
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…
Empowering communities through citizen science and participatory action research
Schistosomiasis is a water-related disease strongly linked with high-risk water and sanitation practices perpetuating disease transmission. In Uganda, despite health education and sensitisation efforts through communication campaigns by the Ministry of Health to reduce schistosomiasis prevalence, common risky practices still pose a challenge, especially among endemic communities. Here, we steered away from the conventional top-down approach to co…
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 …
Against Self-Reflexive Confessions
This paper introduces an approach to transform academic North–South collaborations. Critiquing entrenched dynamics in inter-university collaborations, we propose a methodology for unlearning colonial modes of thinking and relating. The transformative dialogues proposed in this paper illustrate how researchers can jointly engage in generating collective reflexivity and mutual accountability to challenge established norms in academia. Using autoeth…
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
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
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…
A Qualitative Study Exploring Menstruation Experiences and Practices among Adolescent Girls Living in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda
(1) Background : Girls in low- and lower-middle income countries face challenges in menstrual health management (MHM), which impact their health and schooling. This might be exacerbated by refugee conditions. This study aimed at describing menstruation practices and experiences of adolescent girls in Nakivale refugee settlement in Southwestern Uganda. (2) Methods : We conducted a qualitative study from March to May 2018 and we intentionally selec…
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…
Evaluation of a school based comprehensive sexuality education program among very young adolescents in rural Uganda
NCT03669913 , registered retrospectively on September 13th, 2018
The social network context of HIV stigma
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…
Food insecurity, social networks and symptoms of depression among men and women in rural Uganda
Objective To assess the association between food insecurity and depression symptom severity stratified by sex, and test for evidence of effect modification by social network characteristics. Design A population-based cross-sectional study. The nine-item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale captured food insecurity. Five name generator questions elicited network ties. A sixteen-item version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist for Depression capture…
Actual Versus Perceived HIV Testing Norms, and Personal HIV Testing Uptake
Transactional sex and HIV risks – evidence from a cross-sectional national survey among young people in Uganda
BACKGROUND: Transactional sex is associated with the HIV epidemic among young people in Uganda. Few quantitative studies based on nationally representative survey data explored the relationship between sexual behaviors, HIV infection, and transactional sex. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the associations between risky sexual behaviors, participation in transactional sex, and HIV sero-status among men and women aged 15-24 in Uganda. DESI…
The social network context of HIV stigma
Pregnant and abandoned
sponsorship: This work was supported by Enabel - The Belgian Development Agency [grant number UGA1503111] (Enabel - The Belgian Development Agency|UGA1503111)
Transactional sex and HIV risks – evidence from a cross-sectional national survey among young people in Uganda
BACKGROUND: Transactional sex is associated with the HIV epidemic among young people in Uganda. Few quantitative studies based on nationally representative survey data explored the relationship between sexual behaviors, HIV infection, and transactional sex. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the associations between risky sexual behaviors, participation in transactional sex, and HIV sero-status among men and women aged 15-24 in Uganda. DESI…
Actual Versus Perceived HIV Testing Norms, and Personal HIV Testing Uptake
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…
Food insecurity, social networks and symptoms of depression among men and women in rural Uganda
Objective To assess the association between food insecurity and depression symptom severity stratified by sex, and test for evidence of effect modification by social network characteristics. Design A population-based cross-sectional study. The nine-item Household Food Insecurity Access Scale captured food insecurity. Five name generator questions elicited network ties. A sixteen-item version of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist for Depression capture…
Evaluation of a school based comprehensive sexuality education program among very young adolescents in rural Uganda
NCT03669913 , registered retrospectively on September 13th, 2018
The social network context of HIV stigma
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…
A Qualitative Study Exploring Menstruation Experiences and Practices among Adolescent Girls Living in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement, Uganda
(1) Background : Girls in low- and lower-middle income countries face challenges in menstrual health management (MHM), which impact their health and schooling. This might be exacerbated by refugee conditions. This study aimed at describing menstruation practices and experiences of adolescent girls in Nakivale refugee settlement in Southwestern Uganda. (2) Methods : We conducted a qualitative study from March to May 2018 and we intentionally selec…
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…
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
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
Pregnant and abandoned
sponsorship: This work was supported by Enabel - The Belgian Development Agency [grant number UGA1503111] (Enabel - The Belgian Development Agency|UGA1503111)
Empowering communities through citizen science and participatory action research
Schistosomiasis is a water-related disease strongly linked with high-risk water and sanitation practices perpetuating disease transmission. In Uganda, despite health education and sensitisation efforts through communication campaigns by the Ministry of Health to reduce schistosomiasis prevalence, common risky practices still pose a challenge, especially among endemic communities. Here, we steered away from the conventional top-down approach to co…
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 …
Against Self-Reflexive Confessions
This paper introduces an approach to transform academic North–South collaborations. Critiquing entrenched dynamics in inter-university collaborations, we propose a methodology for unlearning colonial modes of thinking and relating. The transformative dialogues proposed in this paper illustrate how researchers can jointly engage in generating collective reflexivity and mutual accountability to challenge established norms in academia. Using autoeth…
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…
It takes a village to raise a child’
African societies have traditionally embraced communal child-rearing, where collective responsibility for children's well-being extends beyond familial ties. This ethos, rooted in the Southern African philosophy of ubuntu and the saying 'it takes a village to raise a child', remains relevant to addressing challenges such as teenage pregnancy, sexual harassment and violence while promoting girls' education. This study, conducted in south-western U…
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…
Exploring community perceptions of gender roles as a predisposing factor in schistosomiasis infection in southwestern Uganda
Introduction : Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease impacts people of all genders and ages. Studies done on gender as a risk factor in schistosomiasis infection and control have not considered what the men and women in schistosomiasis endemic communities think about gender roles as a contributing factor to infection and control. We explored the perceptions of endemic farming (Kyaterekera) and fishing (Ndaiga) communities along Lake Alber…
Psychology (15 works) · Medicine (14 works) · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (13 works) · Sociology (13 works) · Environmental health (10 works) · Population (9 works) · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions (8 works) · Political science (8 works) · Qualitative research (8 works) · Demography (7 works)