Table 2 Inflection points in AGYW decision-making

Pressured into sexual relationship by boyfriend

Being propositioned for a relationship by a peer male

Not having enough money for food

Being asked for sex by a boyfriend/ peer male

Being propositioned for a relationship by an older man

Facing an immediate need for money because of an unexpected event

Refusing sex

Not getting what she wants/expects/needs from boyfriend

Starting period and needing sanitary pads

Deciding to stop condom use

Learning that she is pregnant

Seeing items like clothes and shoes and wanting to have them

Asking boyfriend to take an HIV test

Discovering that boyfriend is cheating on her

Setting goal for oneself

Negotiating condom use

Taking on an additional boyfriend

Business revenue shortfall

Discussing family planning

Switching boyfriends

To start a business or not

Thinking about getting tested for sexually transmitted infections

Emotional stress in relationship influencing choice to leave/stay

Needing capital for business

Having sex with another woman

Physical violence in relationship influencing choice to leave/stay

To join CT program or not

Considering sex work as a means to gain money

Feeling like boyfriend doesn’t meet her financial needs/expectations

To share/loan money (to peers, family, or partner) or not

Boyfriend leaves her for another girl

To stay committed to financial empowerment workshops or not

Getting involved with bad role models/changing peer network

Creating a savings goal/target

Deciding to save money

Deciding that she will rely on herself rather than on a man

Deciding that she will seek financial resources through methods other than sexual relationships