GAP Year Study

Girls Achieve Power (GAP) Year: Building Health, Social and Educational Assets for Empowering Girls at Critical Time of Adolescent Transition

GAP Year aims to To empower adolescent girls in the areas of health, education, social and economic assets while shifting gender attitudes and encouraging positive behaviour change among adolescent boys. Utilizing an ecological model, GAP Year will work with schools, communities, parents, NGOs and health care facilities to encourage a culture of health and safety. Importantly we will also build the evidence base around the impact of asset-building approaches for adolescents.

Summary

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) are at increased risk of HIV acquisition, and gender-based violence which is attributed to poor access to social, economic, educational, and health assets in addition to gender inequality. This study adopts an ecological framework in delivering a series of behavioural interventions to empower adolescent girls’ agency and safety while shifting gender attitudes and encouraging positive behavioral change among adolescent boys at the various levels of the ecosystem i.e. individual, relationship and community. The research study aims to reduce school dropout, increase reporting of violence, creating a safe supporting and enabling learning environment, improve health-seeking behavior, as well as building an evidence base asset intervention, among adolescent learners in a low-income setting in South Africa.

Study Population

Grade 8 learners, School administrators, educators, principals, coaches and learner’ parents/guardians, health care workers and Thuthuzela centers, Departments of Education and health.

investigators

• Dr Saiqa Mullick, Principal Investigator and
• Nicolette Naidoo, Co-Principal Investigator

Donors/Sponsors

• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Partners and Collaborators

1. Grassroots Soccer
2. Sonke Gender Justice
3. Path International
4. Department of Basic Education
5. Gauteng Department of Education (GDE)
6. Western Cape Education Department (WCDE)
7. Department of Health
8. Department of Social Development
9. NGO Community
10. Wits RHI Youth and Community Advisory Boards

Publications:

1. Magida A, Adeagbo OA, Mullick S, Naidoo NP, Yah CS. The use of soccer based Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) education interventions among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review. Abstract submitted to Public Health Association of South Africa | Conference 2016.
2. Yah, CS., Naidoo, NP, Magida, A., Mullick, S. Girls Achieve Power: Building Health, Social and Educational Assets for Empowering Girls at Critical Time of Adolescent Transition: A Trial Protocol.

Presentations and Conference Abstracts:

1. Stakeholder presentations on GAP year to National and Provincial Departments of Education and Health
2. Magida A, Adeagbo OA, Mullick S, Naidoo NP, Yah CS. The use of soccer based Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) education interventions among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review. Poster presented at Public Health Association of South Africa | Conference 2016.
3. Nicolette Naidoo – Implementing an innovative peer led health promotion and education intervention to empower in and out of school youth. Satellite Session at HEAIDS conference, June 2017
4. Magida A, Naidoo NP, Yah CS, Nukeri, C, Gubesa, T and, S, Mullick. Perceived school and community safety: insights from adolescent boys and girls in Soweto and Khayelitsha. Poster presented at SAAIDS, 2017
5. Ayanda Magida, Nicolette Naidoo, Clarence Yah, Saiqa Mullick. Reality through the lens of adolescent girls: using formative research to involve and engage adolescent: ’ girls in the conceptualization of the GAP year program – Abstract accepted to IAAH conference in Delhi, October 2017
6. Ayanda Magida, Nicolette Naidoo, Clarence Yah, Saiqa Mullick. Black is beautiful and white is common”: adolescent girls’ perceptions of self and body image. Abstract accepted to IAAH conference in Delhi, October 2017

References

1. Eiraldi R, K.M., Jawad AF, Fishman J, Glick HA, Schwartz BS, Cacia J, Wandersman A, Beidas R., A hybrid effectiveness-implementation cluster randomized trial of group CBT for anxiety in urban schools: rationale, design, and methods. Implement Sci, 2016. 11.
2. Roman NV, F., J.M. , The prevalence of intimate partner violence in the family: a systematic review of the implications for adolescents in Africa. Family practice, 2013. 30(3): p. 256-65

Latest Update:

15 February 2021

For more on GAP Year please email rhicomms@wrhi.ac.za