Document Type

Brief

Publication Date

2018

Abstract

For Zambian girls, social isolation, economic vulnerability, and lack of appropriate health information and services are critical problems that prevent a healthy transition from girlhood to womanhood. The challenges that girls are confronted with—high rates of gender-based violence, unsafe sex that puts them at risk for unwanted pregnancy and HIV infection, school dropout, lack of economic resources and income-generating options, lack of agency and participation—are linked together through their root causes. Through the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program (AGEP), the Population Council and partners implemented a social, health, and economic asset-building program for vulnerable adolescent girls in Zambia. This brief summarizes the program components, research overview, and progress to date. Findings indicate that overall the program has had positive effects on girls’ sexual and reproductive health knowledge, financial literacy, savings behaviors, condom use, and transactional sex.

DOI

10.31899/pgy7.1002

Language

English

Project

Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program; GIRL Center

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