title: Educational Outcomes for Orphan Girls in Rural Zimbabwe: Effects of a School Support Intervention.
abstract: Educational achievement has important implications for the health and well-being of young women in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors assessed the effects of providing school support on educational outcomes of orphan girls in rural Zimbabwe. Data were from a randomized controlled trial offering the intervention group comprehensive schooling support and controls no treatment initially and then fees only. Results indicated comprehensive support reduced school dropout and absence but did not improve test scores. Providing support to orphan girls is promising for addressing World Health Organization Millennium Development Goals, but further research is needed about contextual factors affecting girls' school participation and learning.
authors.affiliation: a Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation , Chapel Hill , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Bonita J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Iritani
authors.affiliation: a Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation , Chapel Hill , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Hyunsan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: b Department of Community Medicine University of Zimbabwe , Harare , Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Simbarashe
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rusakaniko
authors.affiliation: c Faculty of Education, Africa University , Mutare , Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mapfumo
authors.affiliation: a Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation , Chapel Hill , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Shane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hartman
authors.affiliation: a Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation , Chapel Hill , North Carolina , USA.
authors.forename: Denise Dion
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Hallfors
mesh_terms: D000124:Achievement; D054540:Child, Orphaned / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013332:Student Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015030:Zimbabwe