By Gimono E. Munira Ali

In 2018, while pregnant, I went for routine antenatal care at a public hospital. As I waited, I noticed a deaf pregnant woman who could not be attended to because there was no sign language interpreter and no relative available to interpret for her. Eventually, she left the hospital without receiving any help. That moment stayed with me. I began to wonder how deaf women and girls access sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information and services, especially maternal health care, contraceptive services, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health information.

Motivated by this experience, I enrolled for sign language training at the Uganda National Association of the Deaf, where I obtained a Certificate in Sign Language. I later pursued a Diploma in Sign Language Interpreting at Kyambogo University. Through my interactions with Dr. Sam Lutalo at Kyambogo University, Esther Aguti at St. Luke’s Church of the Deaf in Ntinda (Uganda National Association of the Deaf), and many deaf women themselves, I came to understand the many challenges they face when seeking health care and other social services. Negative public attitudes, communication barriers, and systemic exclusion continue to limit their access to essential services. 

The Executive Director of the Uganda National Association of the Deaf, Robert Nkwangu, also confirmed the significant challenges deaf pregnant mothers face when seeking maternal health care. These realities motivated me to pursue doctoral research on the subject, which I have now successfully completed at Makerere University.

My PhD research, titled ”Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights of Deaf Women and Girls in Uganda”, was undertaken in the Department of Philosophy, School of Liberal and Performing Arts, at Makerere University. The study confirmed a serious lack of sexual and reproductive health information tailored to the linguistic needs of deaf women and girls. In many cases, this gap leads to misuse of medication or incorrect use of contraceptive methods because clear guidance is unavailable. The absence of sign language interpreters in hospitals and health centres remains a major barrier to accessing services. In addition, many health facilities lack written instructions explaining how contraceptive methods should be used, and antenatal programmes rarely accommodate sign language users. The study, therefore, recommends integrating deaf epistemology — the deaf way of knowing and understanding the world — into health communication strategies and policy frameworks aimed at improving services for deaf communities.

The highs and lows

Pursuing this PhD while working as a lawyer and lecturer, and fulfilling my roles as a wife and mother, was a demanding journey. Balancing professional responsibilities, seminars, family life, and academic research often meant long days and short nights. At times, there were moments of isolation, anxiety, exhaustion, and the constant challenge of managing time and expectations.

A turning point came in 2023 when the Mawazo Institute, a women-led non-profit organisation based in Nairobi that supports early-career African women researchers, advertised a fellowship programme. I applied and was fortunate to be selected as a fellow from among more than 2,000 applicants across 16 African countries. The 15-month programme strengthened both my emotional resilience and my academic progress.

Before beginning the doctoral journey, I had discussed my motivations with my partner and explained why the research mattered. Because the study involved community-based research with deaf women and girls, his encouragement and support were essential. Like many doctoral journeys, the path was not without financial challenges. Although I applied for several scholarships, I was unsuccessful. Fortunately, my husband stepped in as the primary funder of my studies. Additional support for data collection came from the Makerere University Research and Innovations Fund (Mak-RIF) and House of Zaka, while the Mawazo Institute supported my publications.

Throughout the research, members of the deaf community were actively involved in the process, ensuring that the study remained respectful, relevant, and capable of producing practical solutions. The work seeks not only to generate knowledge, but also to empower deaf women and girls by bridging information gaps and promoting more inclusive health systems.

I thank the Almighty God for the gift of life and for sustaining me throughout this remarkable journey. I am deeply grateful to my husband, family, supervisors, sponsors, mentors, and doctoral committee for their unwavering support.