Opportunities to Harness Technology to Deliver HIV Prevention / Healthy Sexuality Programming to Sexual and Gender Minority Adults Living in East Africa.

Because of stigmatization of and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other sexual and gender minority (SGM) people in East Africa, there is paucity of SGM-focused sexual health research. Technology-based outreach efforts may represent a feasible way to reach and engage this population. They also may be a way to deliver important yet sensitive sexual health information in a stigma-free, anonymous atmosphere. We explored the feasibility of recruiting and surveying East African SGM adults online, and examined their interest in technology-based sexual health programming. Over a 14-month period, 2451 respondents were surveyed. They were, on average, 26.7 years of age. Fifty-four percent identified as lesbian, gay, and/or bisexual (LGB); a similar percentage (49%) reported having sex with a same-sex partner. Sixteen percent identified as gender minority (i.e. transgender or non-binary); and 29% were assigned female at birth. Almost half (48%) of SGM adults expressed interest in an SGM-focused healthy sexuality program delivered online. Enthusiasm also was noted for email (43%) and text messaging (41%). Compared to face-to-face settings, technology-based settings were more commonly  appraised  as the safest mode through which one could engage in sexual health programming. People who had a same sex partner and those who identified as sexual minority were especially likely to want to engage in technology-based programs. Interest in technology-based programming was similar for adults across gender identities, sex assigned at birth, and age however. Findings suggest that technology may be an underutilized opportunity to reach and engage SGM East Africans in a safe and private manner. Given levels of acceptability indicated by SGM adults across age, sex assigned at birth, and gender and sexual identities in this study, it seems possible that technology-based sexual health and HIV prevention and intervention programs could have the potential to be transformative in East Africa.

Debido a la estigmatización y discriminación contra lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, transgénero y otras personas de minorías sexuales y de género en África Oriental, hay limitadas investigaciones sobre salud sexual centradas en minorías sexuales y de género. Los esfuerzos de divulgación basados en la tecnología pueden representar una forma factible de llegar e involucrar a esta población. También pueden ser una forma de entregar información importante pero sensible sobre la salud sexual en una atmósfera anónima y libre de estigma. Exploramos la viabilidad de reclutar y encuestar a adultos de minorías sexuales y de género de África Oriental en línea y examinamos su interés en la programación de salud sexual basada en tecnología. Durante un período de 14 meses, 2451 personas fueron encuestadas. Tenían, en promedio, 26.7 años. El cincuenta y cuatro por ciento se identificó como lesbiana, gay y / o bisexual (LGB); un porcentaje similar (49%) reporto haber tenido relaciones sexuales con una pareja del mismo sexo. El dieciséis por ciento se identificó como una minoría de género (es decir, transgénero o no binario); y al 29% se les asignó mujeres al nacer. Casi la mitad (48%) de los adultos de minorías sexuales y de género expresaron interés en un programa de sexualidad saludable centrado en minorías sexuales y de género que se ofrece en línea. También se notó entusiasmo por el correo electrónico (43%) y los mensajes de texto (41%). En comparación con los entornos cara a cara, los entornos basados en la tecnología se consideraban más comúnmente el modo más seguro a través del cual uno podía participar en programas de salud sexual. Las personas que tenían una pareja del mismo sexo y las que se identificaban como minorías sexuales eran especialmente propensas a querer participar en programas basados en tecnología. Sin embargo, el interés en la programación basada en tecnología fue similar para los adultos en todas las identidades de género, sexo asignado al nacer y edad. Este estudio sugiere que la tecnología podría ser una oportunidad aún subutilizada para llegar e involucrar a los africanos del este de minoría sexual y de género de una manera segura y privada. Dados los niveles de aceptabilidad indicados por los adultos de minoría sexual y de género de todas las edades, el sexo asignado al nacer, y las identidades sexuales y de género en este estudio, parece posible que los programas de prevención e intervención del VIH basados en la tecnología puedan ser transformadores en África Oriental.

AI for social good: unlocking the opportunity for positive impact.

Advances in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) present an opportunity to build better tools and solutions to help address some of the world's most pressing challenges, and deliver positive social impact in accordance with the priorities outlined in the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The AI for Social Good (AI4SG) movement aims to establish interdisciplinary partnerships centred around AI applications towards SDGs. We provide a set of guidelines for establishing successful long-term collaborations between AI researchers and application-domain experts, relate them to existing AI4SG projects and identify key opportunities for future AI applications targeted towards social good.

Are reproductive health NGOs in Uganda able to engage in the health SWAp?

This paper explores the ability for reproductive health (RH) non-governmental organizations (NGO) in Uganda to survive in the context of SWAp and decentralization. The authors argue that, contrary to the perceptions that this context may increase NGO's financial vulnerability, a SWAp and a decentralized system may provide an opportunity that should be embraced by NGOs to enhance their sustainability and effectiveness by reducing their current dependency on donor funding. The paper discusses the systemic weaknesses of many NGOs that currently make them vulnerable, and observes that unless these weaknesses are addressed, such NGOs will lose their space in the SWAp and decentralization arena. The authors suggest that NGOs need to recognize the opportunities that participating in public-private partnerships through a SWAp can offer them for long-term and significant funding. They need also to develop their capacity to pro-actively participate in a SWAp and decentralized context by becoming more entrepreneurial in nature, through re-orienting their organizational philosophies and strategic planning and budgeting so as to be able to partner effectively with the public sector in accessing funds made available through health sector reform.