Abstract
Abstract : This study contributes to the discourse on the viability of social protection as a means to reduce sexual risk-taking amongst adolescent girls. In South Africa, Adolescent Girls and Young Women (AGYW) aged between 15 and 24 years have the highest incidence of the Human Immune-deficiency Virus (HIV) of any age or sex cohort, with approximately 2,000 new HIV infections occurring every week. Urgent upscaling of HIV-prevention efforts targeting the biological, behavioural and socio-structural drivers of risk is required to stem the epidemic in this priority population (WHO, 2014). The South African National Strategic Plan on HIV, TB and STIs 2017–2022 tasks the national Department of Social Development (DSD) with addressing the socio-structural drivers of risky sexual behaviours. There is growing evidence of the HIV-prevention benefits of social protection in vulnerable groupings in sub-Saharan Africa. Social protection is a key pillar of the developmental social welfare approach adopted by the South African government. The South African Child Support Grant (CSG) is the largest national cash transfer scheme in the region, reaching well over 12 million children aged between birth and 18 years in poor households. Recent quantitative studies attest to its protective effects on risky sexual behaviours, particularly when combined with ‘care’ in the form of psychosocial support, positive parenting or food provision (Cluver, Orkin, Boyes, & Sherr, 2014). This suggests that increasing adolescent access to integrated ‘cash plus care’ programmatic interventions may be an effective HIV-prevention strategy within the DSD’s comprehensive service delivery package for vulnerable young people. This exploratory study explored how cash transfers and caregiving work together to reduce sexual risk behaviour amongst adolescent girls. Qualitative data were derived from in-depth individual and dyadic interviews with eight adolescent girls aged between 16 and 19 years and their caregivers in Westbury, Johannesburg. Findings suggest that the following caregiving practices work together with the CSG to enhance its protective effects: joint management of the CSG with adolescents, responsiveness to adolescent developmental needs and recognition of adolescents’ positive aspirations for the future. Findings clarify pathways through which caregiver support programmes can strengthen caregiving relations and practices. It is recommended that existing programmes include content on the protective effects v of the CSG. Additional resource allocation for caregiver support programmes delivered alongside the CSG will enhance the protective benefits of a national programme with large scale impact.
M.A. (Social Work)