Urban Refugee Youth’s Recommendations for Sexual and Mental Health Promotion: Qualitative Insights From Kampala, Uganda

Refugee youth in Kampala, Uganda, face a unique sexual reproductive health and mental health risk environment requiring focused interventions. Resource limitations and access barriers complicate the provision of relevant supports. Few studies have engaged refugee youth’s recommendations for satisfying their sexual and mental health needs. This cross-sectional, qualitative study aimed to identify urban refugee youth’s sexual and mental health promotion preferences. We administered a structured survey to refugee youth in Kampala (n = 54) between July and November 2023 using the qualitative data collection platform, Sensemaker and analyzed survey responses using inductive thematic analysis (ITA). Two themes emerged: health promotion and youth empowerment. Participants proposed sexual and mental health promotion recommendations directed at distinct stakeholder groups including policymakers/service providers and peers. There were several points of overlap between the sexual and mental health promotion recommendations, including calls for counseling services, health education, and employment opportunities. Youth empowerment was a central theme underwriting both sexual and mental health recommendations. By differentiating between recommendations directed at distinct stakeholder groups, this study identified opportunities for non-governmental actors to contribute to promoting the sexual and mental health of refugee youth in Kampala. Participant insights show how engagement with urban refugee youth’s health promotion recommendations can empower youth and ensure that service design and delivery is consistent with their knowledge, needs, and preferences.