Safe Spaces work for girls and young women

Participants who spent time at a My Journey Safe Space were 33% more likely to have had an HIV test in the past 6 month, 69% more likely to be enrolled in an educational institution, and 40% more likely to be flourishing, according to research by the South African Medical Research Council with NACOSA.

Published in Frontiers in Public Health, the research paper analyses data from the HERStory3 study – a mixed methods impact evaluation of the My Journey Programme. Researchers analysed survey data from 2,608 adolescent girls and young women living in the intervention districts. A multilevel model was used to determine the association between spending time at a Safe Space in the past year and uptake of sexual and reproductive health services, educational enrolment and wellbeing. 

“Even the health workers there (at the Safe Space). They are not so harsh, everything is nice… I prefer the Safe Space with the health workers and social workers rather than the clinic health workers. They very much want to help, it’s nice… without judging you, without being rude.” (18-24 years, Gauteng).

The young women interviewed for the qualitative component of the study showed high levels of acceptability of Safe Spaces because of the welcoming and non-judgemental demeanour of the staff, the quality of services received and the openness of Safe Spaces that responded to their needs.

“My aim… was to learn about things happening to us girls that our parents could not notice. If you do not have anyone that you can talk to at home, you also get a Safe Space there… every Thursday, there is a Safe Space for girls where you can share your story, maybe you were sexually assaulted, you can speak there.” (18-24 years, Eastern Cape)

The quantitative survey data suggest that exposure to Safe Spaces was fairly high, as almost half of the survey participants had spent time at a Safe Space in the past year (46%). Furthermore, services were highly acceptable to participants, with 81% of participants reporting that they were satisfied or very satisfied with the services that they received.

The paper concludes that, given the high levels of acceptability, and positive health and health-related outcomes, Safe Spaces should be included as an important component of youth-friendly sexual and reproductive health programs.