{
  "abstract": "Adolescent girls and young women face significant sexual and reproductive health (SRH) challenges. This study assessed the preliminary effectiveness of a community-based, peer-led SRH education intervention on risky sexual behaviors and comprehensive SRH knowledge among adolescent girls and young women aged 15–24 years in Moroto District, northeastern Uganda. From October 2024 to January 2025, we conducted a pre-post quasi-experiment study without a comparison group across six villages. Participants were selected through a multi-stage sampling approach and assessed at the baseline. They subsequently received the community-based peer-led SRH education intervention, with each participant serving as their own control in the absence of a comparison group. Risky sexual behavior was the primary outcome, and comprehensive SRH knowledge was the secondary outcome, both measured on a binary scale. The intervention effect was assessed using a generalized estimating equation with a Poisson distribution, log link function, and exchangeable correlation structure. We reported adjusted risk ratios (aRR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Of 389 participants who completed both the pre- and post-intervention evaluation, the mean ages were comparable (19.29 ± 2.94 years vs. 19.31 ± 2.91 years; p = 0.922, respectively). After the intervention, there was a significant decline in the proportion of participants who engaged in risky sexual behavior (57.1% before vs. 37.8% after, p < 0.001) and a significant improvement in comprehensive SRH knowledge (85.6% before vs. 99.5% after, p < 0.001). Findings revealed a 33% reduction in risky sexual behavior (aRR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.57-0.75) and a 16% improvement in comprehensive SRH knowledge (aRR 1.16, 95% CI: 1.12-1.20). Accordingly, the intervention reduced risky sexual behavior and improved comprehensive SRH knowledge. However, these findings should be considered preliminary, as robust studies are needed, including a need for nuanced strategies to address contextual factors that contribute to risky behavior despite improved comprehensive SRH knowledge. Trial registration number: PACTR202608716882566.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Texila American University (TAU), Guyana, South America",
    "School of Public Health and Management, Clarke International University (CIU), Kampala, Uganda",
    "Afya na Haki Institute, Kampala, Uganda"
  ],
  "article_type": "Research Article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 3,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Alimah Komuhangi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Saidi Appeli"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Jonathan Izudi"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/56s5t7rhk9ghk.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0006165",
  "fulltext_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006165",
  "id": "56s5t7rhk9ghk",
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  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "3600|Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV"
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    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Microbiology/Medical microbiology/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV"
    ],
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      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV"
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    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Organisms/Viruses/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Physiology/Reproductive physiology/Copulation"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Biology and life sciences/Psychology/Behavior/Human sexual behavior"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Epidemiology/Medical risk factors"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Health care/Community based intervention"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Medical conditions/Infectious diseases/Sexually transmitted diseases"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Immunodeficiency viruses/HIV"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Pathology and laboratory medicine/Pathogens/Microbial pathogens/Viral pathogens/Retroviruses/Lentivirus/HIV"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Medicine and health sciences/Public and occupational health/Behavioral and social aspects of health"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/People and places/Population groupings/Age groups/Children/Adolescents"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/People and places/Population groupings/Families/Children/Adolescents"
    ],
    [
      "plos",
      "/Social sciences/Psychology/Behavior/Human sexual behavior"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214675662",
  "pdf_url": "https://journals.plos.org/globalpublichealth/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgph.0006165&type=printable",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-09-28",
  "publisher": "Public Library of Science",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/56s5t7rhk9ghk.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
      "native_id": "10.1371/journal.pgph.0006165",
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  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biology",
      "origin": "plos:microbiology",
      "subfield": "microbiology"
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      "origin": "plos:epidemiology",
      "subfield": "epidemiology-public-health"
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    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "plos:physiology",
      "subfield": "physiology"
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  ],
  "title": "Peer-led sexual and reproductive health education and risky sexual behavior among adolescent girls and young women in rural Uganda: A quasi-experimental pre-post study",
  "title_text": "Peer-led sexual and reproductive health education and risky sexual behavior among adolescent girls and young women in rural Uganda: A quasi-experimental pre-post study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:37Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/56s5t7rhk9ghk",
  "venue": "PLOS Global Public Health",
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}