UAPS FP/SRHR Thematic Panel Launches Special Issue Advancing Family Planning and Reproductive Health Research in Africa

The Union for African Population Studies (UAPS), through its Family Planning and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (FP/SRHR) Thematic Panel, has published a landmark special issue of the African Population Studies Journal, featuring cutting-edge research on family planning and reproductive health in Africa.

This special issue is the direct outcome of the FP/SRHR capacity-building workshop held in Nairobi, Kenya (May 29 – June 1, 2023), which brought together early career researchers, senior scholars, and practitioners from 11 African countries. Co-hosted with the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC), the workshop laid the foundation for collaborative research, mentoring, and scientific publishing that culminated in this publication.

The special issue features articles that address critical and timely questions in FP/SRHR, including:

Articles

• Predictors of Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights among Adolescents in Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia: A Multi-Level Analysis.

Negussie Boti Sidamo, Amene Abebe Kerbo, Kassa Daka Gidebo, Yohannes Dibaba Wado

• Co-Wives and Co-Siblings: Does the Rank of Wives Matter in Fertility among Women in Ghana?

Patience M. Siaw, Fidelia A. A. Dake

• Women’s sexual autonomy as a determinant of misconceptions about modes of HIV transmission in Nigeria.

Olufemi Mayowa Adetutu, Temisola Emmanuel Oyelakin, Joseph Ayodeji Kupoluyi, Funmilola Folasade Oyinlola, Immanuel Oluwadare Shittu, Peter Adelaja Akerele, Fumnanya Lawrencia Ofili

• The Effects of exclusive breastfeeding on child health in Chad: evidence from national representative survey data

Habib Tchoubou Foba, Folasade Adenike Bello, Atinuke Olusola Adebanji

 

Building African Research Leadership

Beyond the research itself, the special issue represents a milestone in capacity strengthening and African-led scholarship. Many of the articles were authored or co-authored by early career researchers, who received guidance and mentorship from established scholars during and after the Nairobi workshop.

As noted by Prof. Akanni Akinyemi, Chair of the FP/SRHR Thematic Panel:

“This special issue is a testament to the power of collaboration and mentorship. It demonstrates that with the right support, African researchers can generate evidence that not only advances science but also informs policy and practice across the continent.”

 

From Workshop to Publication to Policy Impact

The publication marks a key step in the panel’s broader agenda of bridging research, policy, and practice. In addition to journal articles, authors are working on policy briefs and will present their findings at the upcoming UAPS Conference 2024. These outputs are designed to ensure that the knowledge generated reaches decision-makers and contributes to evidence-informed FP/SRHR programming.

 

Looking Ahead

The UAPS FP/SRHR Thematic Panel will continue to build on this momentum by:

• Supporting monthly virtual seminars for ongoing learning.
• Preparing for conference sessions in 2024 and 2025.
• Expanding mentorship and training opportunities for young scholars.
• Advocating for sustainable African-led funding to support SRHR research.

 

A Collective Achievement

This special issue reflects the collective energy of researchers committed to advancing reproductive health in Africa. It also highlights UAPS’s role as a convener and catalyst for research excellence, mentorship, and policy engagement.

 

Read special issue here Vol. 37 No. 1 (2024): Special Issue on Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights and Family Planning | Journal of African Population Studies