1. Straight Talk Foundation Communication for Better Adolescent Health Forced marriages in Karamoja: A constraint to sexual and reproductive health development of young Karamojong girls C.Watson, P.Walugembe, E. Namubiru XVII International AIDS Conference Mexico City, 3-8 August 2008

2. Straight Talk Foundation Communication for Better Adolescent Health - Karamoja sub region is located in the North Eastern part of Uganda. -Vast majority of people are rural (97.5%) -The lifestyle is predominantly nomadic and characterized by cattle keeping with chronic violence arising out of rustling. -Unfavorable cultural practices including wife inheritance, forced marriages, rape and abuse of women during raids. -HIV/AIDS: Karamoja region has the lowest prevalence in Uganda at 1.7% compared to 6.4% national. -These are positive attributes to build on and keep prevalence low. Who are the Karamojong? Research Objective: To explore forced marriage as a social and cultural barrier to access to information about HIV/AIDS in Karamoja region using qualitative techniques.

3. Straight Talk Foundation Communication for Better Adolescent Health Findings; Early marriages of young girls without consent is common in Karamoja arising mainly out of the need for dowry; “There is also forced marriage by the parents even when a child is still young and of school going age just because she has a big body.” Female, 16 “Some parents do not allow their girls to go to school because they want to get cows” Male 18 “…young people are forced to leave school because of cows” Female 17 “Nothing can be done about the forced marriage, no one can help you when your father is taking you out of school, instead everyone is happy that you are getting married.” Married, 17 year old Female

4. Straight Talk Foundation Communication for Better Adolescent Health Implications and recommendations Sexual and reproductive health implications ; The practice confines the girls into a social setting that hinders access to RH informationThe practice confines the girls into a social setting that hinders access to RH information Exposes the girls to HIV/AIDS-the polygamous marriages in a cross generational setting. Exposes the girls to HIV/AIDS-the polygamous marriages in a cross generational setting.Recommendations Promoting of participatory approaches that incorporate the use of media and community dialoguesPromoting of participatory approaches that incorporate the use of media and community dialogues Development of interventions that are specific to Karamoja and recognize the special challenges presented in the region.Development of interventions that are specific to Karamoja and recognize the special challenges presented in the region.