Miriam Temin|Craig J Heck
Close to Home: Evidence on the Impact of Community-Based Girl Groups
h3abstracth3 h3purposeh3 communitybased programming promote gender equity often delivered communitybased girl groups cbggs sometimes called safe spaces increasing however evidence weak cbggs implemented effect adolescent girls health wellbeing conducted comprehensive literature review identify relevant cbgg programs h3methodsh3 review included programs impact evaluations used experimental quasiexperimental design data 2 time points controlcomparison groups quantitative program effects ipi values h3resultsh3 analyzed evaluations 30 programs 14 randomized controlled trials 16 quasiexperimental although program designs varied programs targeted unmarried girls aged 13 18 years school school met weekly groups 15 25 girls nearly programs used multisectoral approaches focusing life skills often economic financial content financial literacy microsavings complementary activities community members boys health services common across programs evaluations reported statistically significant effects ipilt05 majority gt50 times measured outcomes related gender health attitudes knowledge education psychosocial wellbeing economic financial outcomes measures outcomes related girls health behaviors health status majority null findings h3conclusionsh3 cbgg program evaluations found positive effects girllevel outcomes independent external factors like gender norm attitudes suboptimal performance health behavior health status rely people systems delivery model promise building girls assets complementary actions engage girls social environments structures needed change behaviors health status