Young Refugees in Uganda: The Fight Against HIV

In Kampala, Uganda, young refugees face big challenges when it comes to protecting themselves from HIV. A recent study looked at 330 young refugees aged 16 to 24. It found that only a small group, about one in five, used condoms regularly. But over half had access to HIV self-testing kits, and half had been tested for HIV in the past year. The study found that education and money matters play a big role. Those with more education and better financial stability felt more confident about using condoms. But those who struggled to get enough food felt less sure about it. Interestingly, being in a casual relationship and feeling confident about using condoms made people more likely to use them regularly.Access to HIV self-testing kits was linked to higher education, but also to stigma around sexual health and HIV. This shows that even if people are educated, societal attitudes can still hold them back. On the other hand, having more money and being a young parent increased the chances of getting tested for HIV in the past year. These findings show that there's still a lot of work to be done. To help young refugees protect themselves from HIV, solutions need to consider all aspects of their lives, from education to money to societal attitudes.