Empowerment Of Adolescent Girls Research Articles

Adolescent girls' empowerment policy, health awareness, and decision-making: Evidence from the SABLA program in India.

In India, adolescent girls are highly vulnerable, facing risks that hinder their healthy development into young women. India's Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA) aims to address these challenges by promoting health awareness and encouraging decision-making autonomy, fostering women's development. Using data from the nationally representative India Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) and exploiting exogenous variations in the program's rollout across districts and birth cohorts, we provide evidence that exposure to SABLA increases the likelihood of young female participants using family planning and modern family planning methods. Furthermore, it indicates that participants are more likely to adopt a healthier diet, characterized by increased consumption of green leafy vegetables and reduced intake of fried foods. Additionally, the program empowers participants to have control over their financial resources. The findings also reveal a significant reduction in the likelihood of anemia among women who were exposed to the program. Notably, our results suggest that SABLA contributes to delaying women's marriage and their first childbirth. We find that women exposed to the program have fewer children than their counterparts and face fewer pregnancy losses. To account for COVID-19 disruptions, we include a COVID dummy variable. While the pandemic affected family planning, nutrition, and anemia, SABLA's positive impact on health and empowerment remains strong. Notably, it did not affect women's role in household decision-making, highlighting its lasting effect on empowerment.

The Correlation among Academic Achievement and Internet and Social Networking Sites Attitude of Female Empowerment in Higher Secondary Stage

Empowering female students in higher secondary education is crucial during adolescence, aiming to enhance their confidence, self-worth, and self-concept. This descriptive survey investigates the correlation between internet/social networking sites, academic achievement, and the empowerment of 300 adolescent girls in higher secondary stage. Utilizing structured questionnaires, the study examines adolescent females' perceptions of internet and social networking sites concerning academic success and empowerment. The study employs the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Scale (AGES) developed by Drs. Apana Singh and Devivra Singh Sisodia and the Internet and Social Networking Sites Attitude Scale (ISNSAS) developed by Dr. Subhash Sarkar and Prasenjit Das. Two structure questionnaires and total item was 99 .Both positive and negative are used in these questionnaires .The aim of this present paper was the correlation among academic achievement and internet and social networking sites attitude of female empowerment of higher secondary female students. The result of this present paper was. In order to test the hypothesis, Pearson Correlation Coefficient test was used .It can be indirect from the Table No.2 .That , there is a negative but not significant correlation(r =.065,p=.263) among the higher secondary female students, empowerment scores and academic achievement scores. The findings suggest a negative but not significant correlation (r = 0.069, p = 0.232) between internet and social networking sites and empowerment level scores of female higher secondary students moreover the score is not statistically significant at the conventional significance level (p < 0.01).

Empowerment and intervention strategies to strengthen the use of sexual and reproductive health services by ensuring continuity of care for adolescent girls and internally displaced women in Burkina Faso

Background: In Burkina Faso, a security crisis has displaced families within the country, fleeing high-risk areas. One of the major consequences of this displacement is the low use of sexual and reproductive health care and services, and the reduced empowerment of adolescent girls and internally displaced women (IDP). This research aims to analyze the situation and co-develop intervention strategies to strengthen the empowerment of these adolescent girls and IDP women for the use of these services by ensuring the continuity of this care.
 Methods: This study is based on a mixed approach (quantitative and qualitative). The quantitative component is based on a survey of 1,474 randomly selected households in temporary IDP reception sites in the cities of Kaya and Kongoussi in Burkina Faso. Empowerment was analyzed in terms of motivational autonomy and exercise of choice in family planning. Descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression have allowed us to describe the empowerment of IDP women and adolescent girls and identify the determinants of the use of modern contraception among IDP adolescents and women. The qualitative component has enabled to co-construct intervention strategies to strengthen empowerment and also ensure continuity of care, using a participatory approach supported by a deliberative workshop.
 Results: Out of a sample of 1,220, adolescent girls (12-19 years old) and women (20-49 years old) represented respectively 17.5% and 82.5%. The analysis showed that 42.5% of IDP adolescent girls and women were using a modern method of contraception at the time of the survey. The analysis also showed that 89.2% and 79.5% of adolescent girls and IDP women have low levels of motivational autonomy and exercise of choice in family planning, respectively. A poor perception of contraceptives side effects and possible difficulties with the partner or even the fear of having difficulties returning to fertility after contraception ""damage"" women's motivation to use contraception methods. In addition, the ability to discuss with the partner hinders the exercise of choice in contraception. Intervention strategies based on community dialogue and communication with IDPs and community members have emerged as those promoted to facilitate the use and continuity of health services. 
 Recommendations: Empowerment appears as a determining factor to enhance the contraceptive demand by adolescent girls and internally displaced women. Community dialogue and communication sessions on family planning for IDPs and the population must be well implemented.

Menstrual Hygiene Practice among Adolescent Girls in the Public Schools of Mahalaxmi Municipality in Lalitpur District

Introduction: Sustainable maintenance of good menstrual hygiene practice is crucial for sound reproductive health, education, dignity, and empowerment of adolescent girls. Menstrual hygiene is less addressed in Nepalese context. So this study aimed to assess the menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls in the public schools of Mahalaxmi Municipality in Lalitpur district.
 Methods: A cross sectional study was adopted among 190 respondents of grades 8, 9 and 10 from three public schools of Mahalaxmi Municipality in Lalitpur District. Sample was selected by using simple random technique through lottery method. Data were collected using pre-tested self-administered semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed in SPSS version 16 for window. Bivariables and multivariable logistic analysis were computed to identify factors associated with good menstrual hygiene practice.
 Results: The mean age (±SD) of the study participants and menarche were 15.04 ±1.10 years and 12.86 ±0.96 years. About 43.7% used sanitary pad to absorb their menstrual bleeding, 65.8% disposed the used absorbent in dustbin, 41.1% took daily bath and 40% changed their absorbent three or more times during menstruation. Overall, 62.1% of them had good level of menstrual hygiene practices. Good menstrual hygiene practice was significantly associated with increase in age (AOR: 1.186, 95% CI: 0.540-2.603) living in nuclear family (AOR: 1.664, 95% CI: 0.884-3.281) up in grade (AOR: 2.688, 95% CI: 1.216-5.940) having regular menstruation one year and more(AOR:1.763, 95% CI: 0.838-3.711) and availability of water inside the toilet (AOR:1.226, 95% CI: 0.533-2.820).
 Conclusion: Considerable percentages of adolescent girls in the public schools have poor menstrual hygiene practice. Therefore, provision of appropriate school health programs and basic sustainable sanitation is needed to enhance menstrual hygiene practices among adolescent girls.

Empowerment of adolescent girls and gender based violence prevention through sports: a group work intervention in India

ABSTRACT Violence against women is a severe public health issue and an unacceptable violation of human rights. The Kabaddi group work project in West Bengal, India, integrates sports and socio-emotional learning as a strategy for preventing violence against women through the empowerment of adolescent girls. Delivered by Praajak, a non-governmental organization, the Kabaddi project involves participants in athletic training and weekly study circles that raise awareness; build knowledge, skills, and confidence; and generate mutual trust and motivation to promote individual and social change. Guided by social learning theory and feminist theory, the carefully designed group work intervention follows a developmental approach that is consistent with Linda Schiller’s relational model of group development. Testimonies from group participants demonstrate the intergenerational impact of the Kabaddi project on participants, families, and communities.

Direct and indirect associations of weight status, self-efficacy, and gender attitudes with cognitive and academic skills among adolescent girls in Zambia

ABSTRACT The role of adolescent weight status in psychosocial, cognitive, and academic outcomes remains understudied, particularly among girls in low- and middle-income countries. This study examined the direct and indirect effects of weight status, self-efficacy, and gender attitudes on cognitive and academic skills among adolescent girls. We analyzed two rounds of data collected from adolescent girls (N = 4,693) who participated in the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program in Zambia. Weight status, self-efficacy, and gender attitudes were measured in 2014–2015. Cognitive and academic skills were measured, 1 year later. Analyses were conducted using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Being underweight was significantly associated with lower self-efficacy, and cognitive and academic skills. Self-efficacy and gender attitudes were significantly associated with cognitive and academic skills. Self-efficacy mediated the association of being underweight with cognitive and academic skills. Our results found no significant association of normal weight with cognitive and academic abilities. Undernutrition, low self-efficacy, and weak cognitive and academic abilities during adolescence illustrate the intersecting vulnerabilities faced by adolescent girls. Study findings suggest multiple pathways to improve adolescent girls’ weight status and cognitive and academic skills.

A Comparative Study of Empowerment of NSS and non NSS Girls Volunteers

The present study was aimed at compare the empowerment of NSS girl volunteers and Non-NSS girl students. The study was delimited to NSS girl‟s volunteers and Non -NSS girl‟s students of degree college affiliated to Sambalpur University within age range of 17-19 years in Boudh district of Odisha only.For this study, descriptive survey method was employed. Purposive sampling method has been adopted for the present study.Participants 160 adolescent students From different Degree Colleges who have under 19 years age of Boudh district in Odisha . 80 of them were NSS girls volunteers and 80 wereNon NSS girls students.To collect the required data,Dr. Devendra Singh Sisodia and Alpana Singh Adolescent Girls Empowerment Scale(AGES -2009)have been used by the Investigator.The „t‟ test was used to examine the significance of difference between NSS girl volunteer and Non-NSS girl students with regards to their empowerment. Finally, it was found thatNSS girl volunteer have more empowerment than Non-NSS girl students.

Drivers of Marriage and Health Outcomes Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women: Evidence From Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia

PurposePrevious studies have examined the relationship between age at marriage and health outcomes, but few have explored how marriage drivers are associated with health outcomes. In this study, we examine the relationship between two marriage drivers, premarital pregnancy and agency, and several health outcomes (use of maternal health care services, child health outcomes, and change in depressive symptoms) among married adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. MethodsWe use three panel data sets collected by the Population Council: the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program from Zambia (N = 660), the Malawi Schooling and Adolescent Study from Malawi (N = 1,041), and Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults from India (N = 894 in Bihar, N = 599 in Uttar Pradesh). Our analytical models use logistic and multinomial logistic regression. ResultsWe find mixed evidence of the association between marriage drivers and health outcomes. Results show that having agency in marital partner choice in India is associated with both an increase and decrease in reported depressive symptoms. In addition, pregnancy before marriage is associated with fewer antenatal visits and hospital-based births in Malawi than pregnancy after marriage. However, we find no evidence that it is associated with worse child health outcomes than pregnancy after marriage in Malawi and Zambia. ConclusionsOverall, our study suggests that the relationship between marriage drivers and AGYW's health outcomes after marriage is not consistent across contexts. We highlight the importance of interpreting marriage drivers within prevailing norms to understand their impact on married AGYW's health.

Impact of an Empowerment and Employability Program for Adolescent Girls: Evidence From India

Existing research indicates that self-efficacy, aspirations, skills, and an enabling environment are essential for the economic empowerment of adolescent girls. In India, due to deeply rooted patriarchal views and social norms, adolescent girls face a range of social restrictions on their ability to make any decisions about their education or life choices. Plan-It Girls, a multi-level, multi-stakeholder program seeks to build adolescent girls’ agency and promote gender equality to support their aspirations. It equips girls with a gender perspective, life skills, and employability skills to help them transition from school to work through a gender-integrated curriculum while also engaging with significant stakeholders to shift gender norms and create an enabling environment for girls to reach their potential. This evaluation employed a quasi-experimental longitudinal cohort design, with the objective of understanding the program’s impact on the empowerment and employability of adolescent girls. The findings indicate that self-esteem and self-efficacy can be bolstered, and gender attitudes can be shifted in the short run with such a program. Though there were differences by age and program site, overall, the program was found to be effective in equipping girls with employability skills and preparing them for school-to-work transition. The program was impactful in empowering girls during adolescence when they had early exposure to the program. Adolescence is also when gender attitudes are deepening. As such, the program is considering more intentional focus on this age range in future programming efforts.

The impact of the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program (AGEP) on short and long term social, economic, education and fertility outcomes: a cluster randomized controlled trial in Zambia

BackgroundAdolescent girls in Zambia face risks and vulnerabilities that challenge their healthy development into young women: early marriage and childbearing, sexual and gender-based violence, unintended pregnancy and HIV. The Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program (AGEP) was designed to address these challenges by building girls’ social, health and economic assets in the short term and improving sexual behavior, early marriage, pregnancy and education in the longer term. The two-year intervention included weekly, mentor-led, girls group meetings on health, life skills and financial education. Additional intervention components included a health voucher redeemable for general wellness and reproductive health services and an adolescent-friendly savings account.MethodsA cluster-randomized-controlled trial with longitudinal observations evaluated the impact of AGEP on key indicators immediately and two years after program end. Baseline data were collected from never-married adolescent girls in 120 intervention clusters (3515 girls) and 40 control clusters (1146 girls) and again two and four years later. An intent-to-treat analysis assessed the impact of AGEP on girls’ social, health and economic assets, sexual behaviors, education and fertility outcomes. A treatment-on-the-treated analysis using two-stage, instrumental variables regression was also conducted to assess program impact for those who participated.ResultsThe intervention had modest, positive impacts on sexual and reproductive health knowledge after two and four years, financial literacy after two years, savings behavior after two and four years, self-efficacy after four years and transactional sex after two and four years. There was no effect of AGEP on the primary education or fertility outcomes, nor on norms regarding gender equity, acceptability of intimate partner violence and HIV knowledge.ConclusionsAlthough the intervention led to sustained change in a small number of individual outcomes, overall, the intervention did not lead to girls acquiring a comprehensive set of social, health and economic assets, or change their educational and fertility outcomes. It is important to explore additional interventions that may be needed for the most vulnerable girls, particularly those that address household economic conditions. Additional attention should be given to the social and economic environment in which girls are living.Trial registrationISRCTN29322231. Trial Registration Date: March 04, 2016; retrospectively registered.

The Influence of Schooling on the Stability and Mutability of Gender Attitudes: Findings From a Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Girls in Zambia.

Inequitable gender norms are thought to harm lifelong health and well-being. We explore the process of gender attitude change and the role of schooling in shifting or reinforcing gender norms among adolescent girls in Zambia. We used longitudinal data collected from unmarried, vulnerable girls (aged 10-19years) as part of the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program. We conducted random effects multinomial logistic regression to determine whether schooling-related factors were associated with shifts in adolescent girls' gender attitudes across three survey rounds and explored whether these relationships varied by age. Mean gender attitude scores at the aggregate level remained stable over time among rural girls and improved slightly for urban girls. At the individual level, about half the girls had relatively unchanged scores, whereas the other half shifted to higher or lower scores between rounds. Rural and urban girls currently attending school were more likely to have relatively stable equitable attitudes than stable, inequitable attitudes, or attitudes that shifted to inequitable. Educational attainment was not associated with shifts in gender attitudes among rural girls. Urban girls with higher educational attainment were more likely to have relatively stable equitable attitudes than stable, inequitable attitudes, or attitudes that shifted to inequitable or more equitable. Patterns of gender attitude stability and change differed more for urban girls than rural girls and varied by age and schooling-related factors. In general, schooling appears to be an institutional lever that holds promise for shifting gender attitudes toward greater equality. Our study highlights the importance of looking longitudinally at the effects of social context and reinforces calls for targeted, context-specific interventions for this age group.

PROTOCOL: The effects of empowerment-based nutrition interventions on the nutritional status of adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries.

PROTOCOL: The effects of empowerment-based nutrition interventions on the nutritional status of adolescent girls in low- and middle-income countries.

"When He Asks for Sex, You Will Never Refuse": Transactional Sex and Adolescent Pregnancy in Zambia.

Pregnancy among adolescent girls in Zambia is a significant concern on its own and as a factor in school dropout and early marriage, with one-third of girls aged 15-19 having experienced pregnancy. Using qualitative and quantitative data from the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program, we explore transactional sex as a driver of adolescent pregnancy. In qualitative interviews, transactional sex was repeatedly discussed as the main driver of pregnancy, as respondents indicated that when a girl feels that she "owes" a man sex, it prevents her from declining sex or using condoms. In addition, multivariate Cox proportional hazards models using four rounds of longitudinal data from a sample of unmarried and never pregnant adolescent girls (n=1,853) show that girls who have engaged in transactional sex face a hazard of first premarital pregnancy almost 30 percent greater than their peers who have not, independent of the effect of other risk-related sexual behaviors such as condom use and number of sexual partners. Identifying and understanding the role of transactional sex in adolescent pregnancy is important for designing effective curricula and programs that delay pregnancy, and highlights the importance of addressing access to economic resources in adolescent health outcomes.

Evaluation of Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) -- ‘SABLA’ in Indore District of Madhya Pradesh

Background: Recognizing the problems of adolescent girls central government of India launched Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls-SABLA in October 2010 for the empowerment of adolescent girls. Aim & Objective: To evaluate for the bottlenecks in the implementation of Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls-SABLA (RGSEAG-SABLA) programme. Material & Methods: A Cross-sectional study done for a period of 12 months using Multi-stage random sampling method. 15 ICDS projects 40 AWCs were randomly selected. Semi structured open-ended questionnaires was used as a study tool to interview health care providers. Observation checklist used for assessment of functioning of scheme at Anganwadi centres. Appropriate statistical test was applied using Epidata software. Results: Most of the girls (90.5%) of district were taking supplementary nutrition provided by the anganwadis. Girls with BMI>18.5 was 45 % in urban area & 42.1% in rural area. Statistically significant difference (0.04) found between rural and urban AWCs with regards to availability of space. Conclusion: The SABLA scheme is based on concept of human resource development which will be helpful in promoting the women empowerment in India.

Qualitative Assessment of Life Skill Development of Adolescent Girls through Kishori Panchayat: An Adolescents for Health Action Model in Selected Villages of Rural Central India.

Background:The “Adolescents for Health Action model,” Kishori Panchayat (KP) is an innovative approach for mobilizing and empowering adolescent girls by enhancing their life skills by participating in various community health activities, a platform for interaction with peer-groups, villagers, community leaders, and health-care providers.Aim:The aim of the study is to follow-up the quantitative data regarding the effectiveness of KP in enhancing life skill education among adolescent girls who are members of KP compared to Non-KP girls.Objectives:The main objectives are: (1) to study the knowledge and perceptions regarding life skills among adolescent girls (12–18 years) of KP and non-KP and (2) to identify features of KP and related contextual factors that contributed to the outcome.Methodology:The qualitative study was carried out among 100 KP girls and non-KP girls, respectively (12–18 years), under 20 villages of rural Wardha district over 1-year period after obtaining consent in writing from participants and Institutional Ethics Committee. Focus group discussion was conducted in each village. Key informant interviews of social workers of KPs and school teachers conducted until data saturation.Results:Findings suggest that KP girls had more knowledge and perception regarding life skills and their application compared to non-KP girls. Life skill education program by KP was found to be received positively by adolescent girls.Conclusion:Institutionalization of this can help in building a sustainable model for empowerment of adolescent girls.

Empowerment of Adolescent Girls for Sexual and Reproductive Health Care: A Qualitative Study.

Adolescent girls should be empowered to acquire the ability to take care of their sexual and reproductive health. The present study aimed to improve the understanding of the factors affecting the empowerment of Iranian adolescent girls in terms of taking care of their sexual and reproductive health (e.g. pubertal and menstrual health, preventing high risk sexual behaviors, treatment seeking for sexual and reproductive complaints such as dysmenorrhea, genitalia infection). The present qualitative study was performed using conventional content analysis method. Eight key informants were purposively selected and interviewed. Data collection was performed through unstructured and in-depth interviews. The qualitative content was analyzed simultaneously with data collection based on Graneheim and Lundman method using MAXQDA 2010 software. Data analysis led to the emergence of the main theme of empowerment for care with four classes of reinforcing the foundations of sexual and reproductive health, providing services in health system, reinforcing educational institutions, and consolidating the interaction between adolescent and family, as well as thirteen sub-classes. Results of the present study showed the need for inter-sectional interaction and collaboration among authorities of health systems, education systems, and policymaking institutions to achieve a model for empowering adolescent girls via a multi-level and comprehensive approach.

The burden of menstrual problems and factors affecting adolescent school going girls in Jaipur

Objective: The objective of this study was to find out the burden of menstrual problems and factors affecting adolescent school girls. Methods: Study population included all the adolescent school going girls of 10-19 years age group, residing in the field practice area of RHTC Achrol. The study began in January, 2015 till the estimated sample size of 400 was achieved. Results: Menorrhagia (6 to 8 days) was seen in 104 (26.0%) adolescent girls. 72 (18.0%) girls had polymenorrhoea (<20 days) & 6 (1.5%) had oligomenorrhoea (>35 days). Conclusion: The study revealed that menstrual disorders like oligomenorrhoea, hypomenorrhoea, polymenorrhoea and menorrhagia ranged from 1.5% to 26.0% and around 20% girls had PMS. As per GOI through Rajiv Gandhi scheme for empowerment of adolescent girls -SABLA in an effort to provide adolescent reproductive and sexual health information and services along the continuum of care, community based intervention and demand generation initiatives should be linked to facility based service across all levels of health system.

Cluster randomized evaluation of Adolescent Girls Empowerment Programme (AGEP): study protocol

BackgroundAdolescents in less developed countries such as Zambia often face multi-faceted challenges for achieving successful transitions through adolescence to early adulthood. The literature has noted the need to introduce interventions during this period, particularly for adolescent girls, with the perspective that such investments have significant economic, social and health returns to society. The Adolescent Girls Empowerment Programme (AGEP) was an intervention designed as a catalyst for change for adolescent girls through themselves, to their family and community. Methods/designAGEP was a multi-sectoral intervention targeting over 10,000 vulnerable adolescent girls ages 10–19 in rural and urban areas, in four of the ten provinces of Zambia. At the core of AGEP were mentor-led, weekly girls’ group meetings of 20 to 30 adolescent girls participating over two years. Three curricula ― sexual and reproductive health and lifeskills, financial literacy, and nutrition ― guided the meetings. An engaging and participatory pedagogical approach was used. Two additional program components, a health voucher and a bank account, were offered to some girls to provide direct mechanisms to improve access to health and financial services. Embedded within AGEP was a rigorous multi-arm randomised cluster trial with randomization to different combinations of programme arms. The study was powered to assess the impact across a set of key longer-term outcomes, including early marriage and first birth, contraceptive use, educational attainment and acquisition of HIV and HSV-2. Baseline behavioural surveys and biological specimen collection were initiated in 2013. Impact was evaluated immediately after the program ended in 2015 and will be evaluated again after two additional years of follow-up in 2017. The primary analysis is intent-to-treat. Qualitative data are being collected in 2013, 2015 and 2017 to inform the programme implementation and the quantitative findings. An economic evaluation will evaluate the incremental cost-effectiveness of each component of the intervention.DiscussionThe AGEP program and embedded evaluation will provide detailed information regarding interventions for adolescent girls in developing country settings. It will provide a rich information and data source on adolescent girls and its related findings will inform policy-makers, health professionals, donors and other stakeholders.Trial registrationISRCTN29322231. March 04 2016; retrospectively registered.

Dealing with the issues of gender inequality and aiming for the empowerment of adolescent girls

Dealing with the issues of gender inequality and aiming for the empowerment of adolescent girls

Life Skill Development: Educational Empowerment of Adolescent Girls

Life Skill Development: Educational Empowerment of Adolescent Girls