Abstract
Abstract The goal of this study was to understand the approaches that principals use for HIV prevention in schools and, on that basis, to offer strategies that can be effectively implemented to improve HIV intervention programmes for adolescent girls in South African secondary schools. The research was conducted in four districts in the Gauteng province: Johannesburg, Ekurhuleni, Tshwane and Sedibeng. A non-experimental qualitative, explorative, phenomenological design was used to better understand the problem. Individual interviews were conducted with participants who were purposively chosen from secondary schools in these areas. According to the findings, strengthening the delivery systems for HIV intervention programmes for adolescent girls may be the key to combating the escalation of new HIV infections among these girls. This qualitative study produced participant-reported empirical data, giving researchers a new perspective on the education leadership matters that contribute to addressing the ineffective management and execution of HIV programmes for adolescent girls.