In Uganda, adolescent girls face challenges related to menstrual hygiene management, especially those from low-income families. A study conducted in Southwestern Uganda assessed the impact of economic empowerment and family-strengthening interventions on the self-esteem of adolescent girls, considering cultural attitudes and menstrual hygiene knowledge.
The research involved a 3-arm Cluster Randomized Control Trial, Suubi4Her study, with 1260 adolescent girls aged 14-17 from 47 schools in five districts. The study arms were control, Economic Empowerment using Youth Development Accounts (YDA), and YDA combined with a family-strengthening intervention using Multiple Family Group (MFG) meetings.
The study found that the YDA alone did not significantly impact self-esteem, but the YDA combined with MFG intervention showed a significant increase in self-esteem at the 24-month follow-up. Participants who reported school absenteeism due to cultural or religious reasons and received the YDA + MFG intervention had higher self-esteem than those in usual care.
The research applied Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and Sherraden’s Asset theory to understand the impact of economic empowerment on self-esteem. The combination of financial resources and social support provided by the interventions contributed to improved self-esteem among the adolescent girls.
The findings highlight the importance of integrating economic empowerment and family-strengthening initiatives in policies targeting adolescent girls’ well-being. By addressing cultural attitudes and providing comprehensive menstrual hygiene education, these interventions can support girls’ self-esteem and overall development.
While the study showed positive outcomes from the combined interventions, further research is needed to explore the long-term effects and sustainability of such programs. Additionally, qualitative components could provide deeper insights into the cultural contexts influencing menstrual hygiene management and self-esteem among adolescent girls.
The study underscores the significance of holistic interventions that combine economic empowerment with social support to enhance the self-esteem and resilience of adolescent girls, particularly in the context of menstrual hygiene management. By addressing multiple factors simultaneously, these interventions can create a supportive environment conducive to the well-being of adolescent girls.
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