Population Council Research that makes a difference

Banner photo: Collecting water in Rwanda.

Overview

In Rwanda, the Population Council has worked to improve the psychosocial well-being of youth-headed households, many of whom have been affected by HIV and AIDS. Currently, the Council is supporting a network of partners from several countries, including Rwanda, that approach the problem of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) from different fields of expertise.

Highlights of past and present research

  • Providing technical assistance to a PEPFAR initiative to strengthen the delivery of comprehensive services, including postexposure prophylaxis, to victims of sexual violence.
  • Developed and evaluated a community mentorship program to improve the psychosocial well-being of youth-headed households.
Banner photo: © 2006 Scott Harrison, courtesy of Photoshare

Projects

Africa Regional Sexual and Gender-based Violence Network (more)
The Population Council is providing technical assistance to a PEPFAR initiative to strengthen the delivery of comprehensive services, including postexposure prophylaxis, to victims of sexual violence.
(8/2006 - 12/2008)
Integrating health services; Sexual and gender-based violence

Assessing the Psychosocial Benefits of a Community-based Home Visitation Program for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Rwanda (more)
The Population Council and its partners developed and evaluated a community mentorship program to improve the psychosocial well-being of youth-headed households in Rwanda.
(9/2003 - 7/2007)
Orphans and vulnerable children

Resources

Impact of a mentoring program on psychosocial wellbeing of youth in Rwanda: Results of a quasi-experimental study (abstract
Brown,Lisanne; Thurman,Tonya R.; Rice,Janet C.; Boris,Neil W.; Ntaganira,Joseph; Nyirazinyoye,Laetitia N.; De Dieu,Jean; Snider,Leslie M.
Vulnerable Child and Youth Studies 4(4): 288-299
Publication date: 2009


The adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people--Rwanda 2005 (PDF) (HTML
Publication date: 2009


Barriers to the community support of orphans and vulnerable youth in Rwanda (abstract
Thurman,Tonya R.; Snider,Leslie M.; Boris,Neil W.; Kalisa,Edward; Nyirazinyoye,Laetitia N.; Brown,Lisanne
Social Science and Medicine 66(7): 1557-1567
Publication date: 2008


Depressive symptoms in youth heads of household in Rwanda (abstract) (PDF
Boris,Neil W.; Brown,Lisanne; Thurman,Tonya R.; Rice,Janet C.; Snider,Leslie M.; Ntaganira,Joseph; Nyirazinyoye,Laetitia N.
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine 162(9): 836-843
Publication date: 2008


Assessing the psychosocial benefits of a community-based mentoring program for youth-headed households in Rwanda (PDF
presented to The Orphans and Vulnerable Children Task Force, December 12, Washington, DC
Thurman,Tonya R.
Publication date: 2007


Infants and young children living in youth-headed households in Rwanda: Implications of emerging data (abstract
Boris,Neil W.; Thurman,Tonya R.; Snider,Leslie M.; Spencer,Erin; Brown,Lisanne
Infant Mental Health Journal 27(6): 584-602
Publication date: 2007


Psychosocial benefits of a mentoring program for youth-headed households in Rwanda (PDF
Brown,Lisanne; Rice,Janet C.; Boris,Neil W.; Thurman,Tonya R.; Snider,Leslie M.; Ntaganira,Joseph; Nyirazinyoye,Laetitia N.; Kalisa,Edward; Nshizirungu,Emmanuel
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2007


Supporting volunteer mentors: Insights from a mentorship program for youth-headed households in Rwanda (PDF
Brown,Lisanne; Thurman,Tonya R.; Kalisa,Edward; Rice,Janet C.; de Dieu Bizimana,Jean; Boris,Neil W.; Snider,Leslie M.; Ntaganira,Joseph
Horizons Research Summary
Publication date: 2007


Psychosocial support and marginalization of youth-headed households in Rwanda (abstract
Thurman,Tonya R.; Snider,Leslie M.; Boris,Neil W.; Kalisa,Edward; Mugarira,Eleazer Nkunda; Ntaganira,Joseph; Brown,Lisanne
AIDS Care 18(3): 220-229
Publication date: 2006


Evaluation of United Nations-supported pilot projects for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: Overview of findings (PDF
Rutenberg,Naomi; Baek,Carolyn; Kalibala,Sam; Rosen,James
HIV/AIDS Working Paper
Publication date: 2003


Programme recommendations for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV: A practical guide for managers (PDF
Rutenberg,Naomi; Kalibala,Sam; Baek,Carolyn; Rosen,James
HIV/AIDS Working Paper
Publication date: 2003


Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds: Rwanda (PDF
annex to "Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning"
Publication date: 2003


Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey--Statistical tables for program planning: Rwanda 1992 (PDF
Publication date: 2002


Ethnicity and child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (PDF
Brockerhoff,Martin; Hewett,Paul C.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 107)
Publication date: 1998


Rwanda Fast Facts

Population (millions)9.9
Total fertility rate5.5
Infant deaths per 1,000 live births62
Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births1300
Girls aged 20-24 married by age 18 (%)13
HIV/AIDS prevalence (%)2.8
Living below US $2 per day (%)90

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