Design, implementation, and evaluation of the Go Girls! adult-child communication intervention in Botswana, Malawi, and Mozambique

Purpose The Go Girls! Initiative (GGI) aimed to reduce adolescent girls' vulnerability to HIV in Botswana, Malawi, and Mozambique. In order to inform program design, formative research was conducted with community members in all three countries. Community members recognized that weak relationships between adults and youth, the absence of positive adult role modeling, and inadequate monitoring of youth contributed to girls' vulnerability to HIV. In response to this research finding, GGI developed an adult-child communication curriculum designed to improve relationships between adults and girls. Data Baseline (2009) and endline (2010) surveys with random samples of girls aged 10-17 at baseline and 11-18 at endline were conducted in the 16 GGI implementation communities. The sample sizes for baseline/endline were 544/401 in Botswana; 823/414 in Malawi; and 918/607 in Mozambique. Methods A quasi- experimental, separate-sample baseline and endline design was used to evaluate the program. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results Adolescent girls whose mother and/or father participated in the adult-child communication program were significantly more likely to report improved relationships with that parent as compared to girls whose parents did not participate in the program. Recommendations Research has shown that weak relationships with adults contributes to girls' vulnerability to HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, where adolescent girls are 3-5 times more likely to be infected with HIV than their male peers, efforts to improve adult-child relationships are clearly needed. The GGI experience shows how a simple intervention with adults can lead to significantly improved relationships between adults and youth.