Limitations
SECONDARY
The study has several limitations to be acknowledged. First, the generalizability of the findings may be limited as the sample consisted exclusively of girls enrolled in secondary schools, potentially biasing the results towards those with higher socioeconomic status and better mental health. However, it is important to emphasize that the primary focus of this study was prevention, targeting girls in schools. While recognizing the significance of providing support beyond school settings, including street children and those who have dropped out, this study was designed within a prevention framework to assist vulnerable adolescent girls before they drop out of school when their exposure to HIV-risk taking behaviors increases [Another limitation is the reliance on self-report measures. The absence of biomarkers or objective measures of mental health and family functioning may introduce limitations, as self-report data are susceptible to biases such as social desirability. Acknowledging these limitations, it is important to note that implementing objective evaluations of adolescent mental health and family functioning through assessments conducted by trained clinicians presents a significant challenge in low-income settings, such as Uganda. This challenge stems from the well-documented scarcity of health and social services, including a low concentration of trained mental health professionals and family clinicians, which is reflective of the broader systemic gaps in health infrastructure [Furthermore, it is important to acknowledge that the study focused on adolescent girls, and no data were collected from parents or caregivers. Incorporating parental perspectives in the assessment of family dynamics could offer valuable insights into the broader understanding of adolescent mental health and family functioning.