Cybersenga
HIV and AIDS continue to be a public health problem, and this is particularly true in sub-Saharan Africa. Concurrently, there has been an explosion in technology use. Taking advantage of this increased access, we developed and tested an online, evidence-based HIV prevention program designed for adolescents in Uganda called CyberSenga. In Uganda, the Senga is the father’s sister typically responsible for offering female children advice and guidance—including sexual health advice—to youth as they transition from childhood to adulthood. The Kojja is the male equivalent.
We adopted the Senga and Kojja concepts to present a culturally salient, trustworthy role model for the youth to follow throughout the intervention. The CyberSenga program provides information about HIV, shows young people useful ways to solve problems and communicate with others about their needs, and shows young people how to use condoms properly.
The website was developed and tested in partnership with colleagues at Mbarara University Science and Technology, Harvard University, and the University of Colorado.
Funding Sources:Presentations
- Opportunities to tailor HIV prevention programming for Ugandan young adults
- CyberSenga: A culturally tailored Internet-based HIV prevention program for adolescents in Mbarara, Uganda
- CyberSenga Dissemination Meeting: Session 3. CyberSenga the program
- CyberSenga Dissemination Meeting: Session 2. Developing CyberSenga
Peer Reviewed Publications
- Cell phone usage among adolescents in Uganda: acceptability for relaying health information
- Cyber-Senga: Ugandan youth preferences for content in an internet-delivered comprehensive sexuality education programme
- Health information seeking among Mbararan adolescents: results from the Uganda Media and You survey
- Internet use among Ugandan Adolescents: Implications for HIV intervention