But changing health outcomes means changing social norms too. A360’s two-pronged strategy engages both girls and their husbands to foster shared decision-making and encourage care-seeking behaviors. Male Interpersonal Communication Agents lead husband-focused sessions that highlight the importance of ANC, respectful partnerships, and joint responsibility for maternal health. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
For 18-year-old Zainab Abdullahi from Ringim in Jigawa State, Nigeria, this approach changed everything. Five months pregnant and newly married, Zainab only spoke to her husband about basic requests, such as asking for money for medical expenses. Like many in her community, he didn\u2019t see ANC as a priority. But after several Life, Family, and Health sessions, Zainab began to see herself differently, not just as a girl going through pregnancy, but as a mother-in-the-making who deserved care and support. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
One evening, after serving his favorite meal, fura da nono<\/em>, a fermented milk-cereal, Zainab gently started a conversation. \u201cI\u2019ve been going to the health center,\u201d<\/em> she told him, \u201cand I\u2019ve learned how to take care of myself and our baby.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n She explained what she\u2019d learned through A360, which included fetal development stages, signs of danger, and how ANC could protect her life and their child\u2019s. She even handed him a brochure she received at her session and said, \u201cYou can come with me next time.\u201d<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n To her surprise, he asked the next morning, \u201cWhen\u2019s the next session?\u201d <\/em>and joined her. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That moment marked a turning point, not just in Zainab\u2019s pregnancy journey, but in their marriage. She gained the confidence to speak, and he learned how to listen. Together, they began navigating parenthood as partners. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Stories like Zainab\u2019s echo across A360\u2019s four intervention states. In 2024 alone, A360\u2019s adolescent-responsive maternal, neonatal, and child health initiative led to measurable gains: <\/p>\n\n\n\n To promote financial readiness, A360 also introduced group savings sessions, helping girls prepare for safe deliveries and postnatal care, while building a foundation for longer-term economic security. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In 2025, A360 will expand this model to additional sites, with a deepened emphasis on state-led implementation. This includes capacity building, government-driven data systems, and robust knowledge sharing to ensure that what works for girls and is sustained by<\/em> the systems that serve them. Because every girl, like Zainab, deserves to feel seen, supported, and safe as she brings new life into the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media.psi.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/14121318\/Jigawa-A360-2-scaled.jpg\")
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To learn more about PSI’s impact, explore the report<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n