Evaluating socio-economic resilience interventions among out-of-school adolescent girls and young women in rural Central Uganda: A quasi-experimental approach

Abstract

This study evaluates the impact of a socio-economic resilience intervention targeting out-of-school Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) in Uganda's Central Region. The study addresses a critical gap by focusing on out-of-school AGYW, a particularly underserved group, and assessing the sustained impact of integrated interventions that combine financial empowerment, social support, and gender-based violence (GBV) prevention. A quasi-experimental post-test-only design involved 390 participants, evenly split between intervention and control groups. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS Version 27 through descriptive statistics, t-tests, and logistic regression. Intervention participants showed significantly higher economic resilience (mean difference = 0.508, p = 0.012) and social resilience (mean difference = 0.267, p = 0.034). They were more likely to join savings groups (OR = 2.3, p < 0.001) and contribute financially to household needs (OR = 1.8, p = 0.021). AGYW household heads exhibited greater financial independence (OR = 2.5, p = 0.006) and awareness of GBV reporting mechanisms (OR = 3.2, p = 0.008). This study highlights the transformative potential of addressing intersecting economic, social, and structural vulnerabilities in underserved out-of-school AGYW. Scaling up holistic interventions that integrate financial, social, and GBV support is critical. Policymakers should prioritize these programs while incorporating formal financial systems and sustained health behavior strategies for long-term impact.