The Future of Sexual and Reproductive Health Research (FOR) Kenya Program, a Collaboration Between Maseno University and the University of California, San Francisco
The Future of Reproductive Health-Kenya, (FOR-Kenya) was a pilot professional certificate course in Qualitative Research for Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH). The collaborative initiative between Maseno University and the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), aimed at training young women (20-21 years) in qualitative research
principles and methods, offer mentorship and support to design and lead their own small scale studies aimed at improving SRH services for themselves and their peers.
Ten (six undergraduate students from Maseno University and four community members) young women participants were competitively recruited from the Departments of Public Health, Anthropology and Sociology and were paired with young women from the neighboring community who have ever participated in similar SRH-related research
studies. The training was conducted in-person on weekends at Kisumu Campus and virtual modules during the week days from November 2023 to June 2024.
Under the mentorship of program staff, the trainees formed two research teams and designed and implemented qualitative studies on pressing SRH issues affecting adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in the region:
1. Exploring the interplay of social media, peer influence and sexual and reproductive health decision making among adolescent girls and young women in Kisumu County, Kenya.
2. Exploration of how young women’s experiences with healthcare providers affect their attitudes towards uptake of contraception in Manyatta Ward, Kisumu County, Kenya.
In June 2024, the trainees presented their findings at the 7th Reproductive Health Network Kenya (RHNK) Adolescent and Youth SRHR Scientific Conference in Mombasa where other participants expressed interest in learning more about the findings and applying them to programs.
Through this project, FOR Kenya has recorded success in improving knowledge of qualitative methods and key topics in SRH, Increased confidence in conducting qualitative research and providing support for trainees to pursue careers in SRH research with a qualitative lens.
