Project reference number: GCUL-2022-001
This project aims to explore the contribution of social capital in promoting positive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) in young people in the context of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Young people who have positive interpersonal relationships and sexual experiences are more likely to grow through adolescence to have good reproductive health. SRH is critical to general health and wellbeing during adolescence and is likely to contribute not only to the health and well-being of individuals, but also of families, communities and nations. There are known to be a very wide range of social, cultural, economic and political determinants that impact upon the SRH of adolescents. The relative importance of each of these determinants depends on where the adolescent is growing up in the world. Specifically, in relation to social and economic circumstances, racial and religious norms and practices, as well as other defining strata such as sexuality and sexual identity; or membership of indigenous or non-indigenous populations, are all important. Individuals and communities with strong social capital have access to and are able to form high levels of connectedness to a diverse range of networks, this improving their chances of good health outcomes. However, the ways in which social capital operates are known to be context specific. Context matters whether that be to do with geography, sub-groups of the population or cultural norms and behaviours. This project will qualitatively explore the nature of social capital and how it is associated with positive SRH in 3 SSA countries. In so doing, the project will be able a develop a framework that can facilitate the building of social capital interventions appropriate to the SSA region and specific to country context. The project will utilise a bio-ecological framework to ensure the role of social capital and its relative contribution is placed in the wider context of other known determinants of SRH operating at different system levels from individual, to immediate and more distal social factors, and at the country level (Currie and Morgan, 2020)
How to Apply
This project is available as a 3 years full-time or 6 years part-time PhD study programme with expected start date of 1 February, 1 May or 1 October 2022.
Candidates are encouraged to contact the research supervisors for the project before applying.
Candidates are required to submit a Research Proposal.
Applicants should apply for their preferred intake date using the GCU London links via the Application Process page.
Please send any other enquires regarding your application to: [Email Address Removed]
Funding Notes
Applicants are expected to find external funding sources to cover the tuition fees and living expenses. Alumni and International students new to GCU who are self-funding are eligible for fee discounts.
Find out more on our Research Scholarships and Studentships webpage.