Health and life skills project (HELP) among house girls in Nairobi : an evaluation of the effect of HELP on house girls' vulnerability towards STI/HIV and unintended pregnancy

The girls were taken through a seven module curriculum covering: (1) self-esteem and communication skills; (2) sexual and reproductive health (SRH); (3) STIs including HIV prevention and protection; (4) sexual violence, alcohol and drug abuse; (5) personal savings and financial management; (6) basic household safety and security; and, (7) basic first aid. The overall goal of this evaluation was to describe the effect of the intervention on house girls' knowledge and practices as relates to HIV and unintended pregnancy prevention. Specifically, the objectives were: (1) to examine house girls' sources of vulnerability to STIs including HIV and unintended pregnancy, their post training knowledge of these subjects, and their sexual and reproductive health behaviors; (2) to describe house girls' capacity to take risk-reduction action on STIs including HIV and unintended pregnancies; (3) to descriptively compare the outcomes of the intervention in areas characterized by differences in the socioeconomic status of the population; and (4) to determine perceptions and attitudes towards the program by the house girls, their employers and church members. Overall, the study has demonstrated that the training provided an opportunity for the house girls to receive information that otherwise proved elusive to them given the nature of their work. Improved self-esteem and efficacy and the increased financial management realized among the house girls have been directly attributed to their participation in the project by the house girls themselves, their employers and by the church members interviewed. Increased knowledge on STIs (including HIV prevention) and prevention of unintended pregnancies was realized. After the training the house girls said that their communication skills improved, they had better appreciation of their work and they were more confident. These same observations were made by the employers and church members as well. Reservations about the training as expressed by the employers included fear that the house girls would leave once trained and the time spent by the house girls during training. All in all, employers, church members and the house girls would recommend the project to others. (Excerpt, modified)