CONTEXT: Social desirability bias is problematic in studies that rely on self-reported sexual behavior data.Where gender norms create different expectations about socially acceptable behavior, males and females face distinct pressures reporting certain outcomes, which can distort assessments of risk for HIV STIs. METHODS:In 2009, relationship data were collected from 1,750 never-married aged 16-18 via audio computer-assisted self-interviewing (audio-CASI) during the third round Malawi...

Abstract Background Adolescent girls in Zambia face risks and vulnerabilities that challenge their healthy development into young women: early marriage childbearing, sexual gender-based violence, unintended pregnancy HIV. The Girls Empowerment Program (AGEP) was designed to address these challenges by building girls’ social, health economic assets the short term improving behavior, marriage, education longer term. two-year intervention included weekly, mentor-led, group meetings on health,...

Most empirical investigations of the effects cognitive skills assume that they are produced by schooling. Drawing on longitudinal data to estimate production functions for adult verbal and nonverbal skills, we find that: (1) School attainment has a significant substantial effect but not skills; (2) Pre-school post-school experiences also have positive skills. captured height age at 6 years substantially significantly increase even after controlling school attainment. Post-school tenure in...

Many adolescent girls in Kenya and elsewhere face considerable risks vulnerabilities that affect their well-being hinder a safe, healthy, productive transition into early adulthood. Early adolescence provides critical window of opportunity to intervene at time when are experiencing many challenges, but before those challenges have resulted deleterious outcomes may be irreversible. The Adolescent Girls Initiative-Kenya (AGI-K) is built on these insights designed address for young girls....

Adolescent girls' risk of school dropout and reproductive health (RH) challenges may be exacerbated by attitudes toward their bodies inability to manage menstruation. We assessed effects sanitary pad distribution RH education on girls in primary grade 7 Kilifi, Kenya.A cluster randomized controlled trial design was used. Eligible clusters were all non-boarding schools three sub-counties Kilifi County that had a minimum 25 enrolled 7. 140 schools, 35 per arm, randomly assigned one four study...

This article provides updated estimates of trends in modern contraceptive use among young adult women (aged 15-24) who have had sex, using Demographic and Health Survey data from 23 sub-Saharan African countries (1990-2014). In East/South Africa, parous higher than nulliparous larger increases over time. the West/Central region, Most increase was driven by an short-acting-rather long-acting-methods across regions parity groups. Although unmet need for family planning both regions, time...

Pregnancy among adolescent girls in Zambia is a significant concern on its own and as factor school dropout early marriage, with one-third of aged 15-19 having experienced pregnancy. Using qualitative quantitative data from the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program, we explore transactional sex driver In interviews, was repeatedly discussed main pregnancy, respondents indicated that when girl feels she "owes" man sex, it prevents her declining or using condoms. addition, multivariate Cox...

Adolescents 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 introduce interventions during this period, particularly adolescent girls, with perspective that investments have significant economic, social and health returns society. Adolescent Girls Empowerment Programme (AGEP) was an intervention designed a catalyst change girls themselves, their family...

The vast majority of adolescent births occur in low- and middle-income countries are associated with negative outcomes for both the mother her child. A multitude risk factors may explain why few programs have been successful delaying childbearing suggest that multisectoral interventions be necessary. This study examines longer-term impact a two-year (2015-17) program on early sexual debut fertility an urban informal settlement Kenya.

Early marriage has multiple drivers including cultural and social norms alongside lack of educational economic opportunities. This complexity may explain why few programs have demonstrated delays suggests multisectoral interventions are necessary. study examined a 2-year program designed to delay in marginalized setting.The used prospective 80-cluster randomized trial following up 2,147 girls aged 11-14 years from 2015 2019. Interventions included community dialogs about inequitable gender...

Abstract Background Early adolescence is a critical window for intervention when it possible to lay foundation safe transition adulthood, before negative outcomes occur. The Adolescent Girls Initiative–Kenya randomized trial tested the effects of combinations interventions young adolescent girls in two sites – Kibera informal settlement Nairobi and rural Wajir County Northeastern region. Methods included community dialogues on role value (violence prevention), conditional cash transfer...

Little is known about whether the timing of marriage used as a strategy to avoid HIV infection among young people in sub‐Saharan Africa. Analyzing five rounds longitudinal data from Malawi Schooling and Adolescent Survey, we do not find support for hypothesis that women's perceived chances future are associated with transition marriage, but evidence married women who see themselves at risk have greater likelihood divorcing than perceive no chance infection. We also use individual‐level...

Growing evidence of the prevalence school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) has raised concerns about negative effects on education. Previous quantitative research this topic been limited by descriptive and cross-sectional data. Using longitudinal data from Malawi Schooling Adolescent Study, we investigate associations between school domestic three education outcomes: absenteeism, learning dropout. Half respondents had experienced both SRGBV ages 18-21. Associations were mixed: sexual...

We explore whether differential access to family planning services and the quality of those explain variability in uptake contraception among young women Malawi. accomplish this by linking Malawi Schooling Adolescent Study, a longitudinal survey people, with Service Provision Assessment collected 2013-2014. also identify factors that determine choice facility who use contraception. find presence characteristics nearby facilities available did not appear affect use. Rather, such as type was...

Global investments in girls' education have been motivated, part, by an expectation that more-educated women will smaller and healthier families. However, many low- middle-income countries, the timing of school dropout first birth coincide, resulting a rapid transition from role student to mother for adolescent girls. Despite growing interest effects pregnancy on levels dropout, researchers largely overlooked potential effect childbearing literacy numeracy. We hypothesize becoming soon after...

Most investigations of the importance and determinants adult cognitive skills assume that (a) they are produced primarily by schooling (b) is statistically predetermined. But these assumptions may lead to misleading inferences about impacts pre-schooling post-schooling experiences on skills. This study uses an unusually rich longitudinal data set collected over 35 years in Guatemala investigate production functions for (i) reading-comprehension (ii) nonverbal as dependent...

While multiple studies have documented shifting educational gradients in HIV prevalence, less attention has been given to the effect of school participation and academic skills on infection during adolescence. Using Malawi Schooling Adolescent Study, a longitudinal survey that followed 2,649 young people aged 14-17 at baseline from 2007 2013, we estimate three education variables: enrolment, grade attainment, skills-numeracy Chichewa literacy-on herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) incidence...

School attainment has increased and gender gaps narrowed in many settings without commensurate declines child marriage with persistent work. This paper investigates whether changes young people's ability to translate education into paid work rural Malawi.Using data from a longitudinal study of adolescents Malawi followed through adulthood, individual-level fixed-effects regressions that account for time-invariant factors were used investigate differences status on the extent which grade...