A new study summarizes evidence from 82 studies from low- and middle-income nations to identify programs that may improve girls' education outcomes and narrow gender disparities. Campbell Systematic Reviews Journal published the research. The authors of the review concluded that interventions that address financial barriers to school, inadequate nutrition, and insufficient academic support could improve girls' educational outcomes.
Interventions that aim to improve girls' access to schools and materials, and improve water and sanitation in schools, especially toilets, may also be promising approaches. The review found no evaluations of the effects of school-related gender-based violence interventions on girls' education and very few studies that examined educational outcomes of sports programs for girls, school-based health and childcare, child marriage and adolescent pregnancy, and menstrual hygiene management.
"This review is timely. We can use the evidence to counter COVID-19's devastating toll on education and to identify critical research gaps in the gender and education field," said corresponding author Nicole Haberland, senior associate at the Population Council, in New York City.
