Table 1 Characteristics of the included studies with their overall quality

Quantitative studies

Hector J, 2018

Mozambique

Adolescents 16 to 20

*^c

Imani et al., 2021

Kenya

Adolescent girls and young women: 15–24 yrs

****^a

Iwelunmor et al., 2022

Nigeria

Young People 14–24

****^a

Nawazuru U et al., 2019

Nigeria

Young People 14–24

***^c

Olakunde et al., 2022

Kenya

High risk young adults, 18–22

****^a

Smith et al., 2016

South Africa

Young adults, 16–25

***^b

Serge Tonen-Wolyec et al., 2019, PloseOne

DRC

adolescents 15–19

*****^a

Tonen-Wolyec et al., 2019 PanAfricanMedJ

DRC

Young students 15–24

**^c

Wilson et al., 2022

Kenya

Adolescents and young adults, 15–24

*****^a

Abdulhammed Babatunde et al., 2022

Nigeria

University students 16 and above, 87.8% are between the ages 16–25

**^c

Hloniphile R. Mthiyane et al., 2023

South Africa

University students

**^c

18 to 29, 83% between 18–24, 17% between 25–29

Segawa et al., 2022

Uganda

Female university students 15–24

****^a

Qualitative studies

Iwelunmor et al., 2020

Nigeria

Youth 10–24

*****^a

Andrea L. Koris et al., 2021,

Zimbabuwe

Tertiary school students,18–24,

Qualitative study in RCT

*****^a

Robert Lapsley et al.,2020

Kenya

Adolescents and young adults, 15–24

*****^a

Carmen H Logie et al., 2021

Uganda

Urban refuge youth, 16–24

*****^a

Joseph K. B. Matovu et al., 2020

Uganda

Young people in fishing community, 15–24

*****^a

Chisom Obiezu-Umeh, 2021

Nigeria

Young people, 14 to 24

*****^a

Crissi Rainer, 2020

Zimbabuwe

Adolescents, 16 to 18 years

*****^a

Tiarney D. Ritchwood, 2019

South Africa

Youth 18–24

*****^a

Kadija M. Tahlil, 2021

Nigeria

Youth 14–24

*****^a

Dennis Aizobu et al., 2023

Nigeria

Sexually active youth between 21–25 years

*****^a

Mason S et al., 2022

Nigeria

YP 10–24 years living in Lagos city

*****^a

McGowan M et al., 2022

Kenya

Young women 16–24

*****^a

Neiloy R Sircar, and Allan A Maleche, 2022

Kenya

Young women 18–24, FSW, MSM and people who inject drugs (PWIDs)

****^a

Nambusi K et al., 2023

Botswana

Young people 18–24 years and health care workers

*****^a

Mixed Methods study

Amstutz et al., 2020

Lesotho

Adolescents and young adults, Mean, Intervention = 18, control = 17 Range intervention: 15 to 21

****^a

Birdthistle et al., 2022

South Africa

Young people 15 to 24

*****^a

Indravudh et al., 2017

Malawi and Zimbabwe

Young people, 16 to 25

*****^a

Matovu et al., 2020

Uganda

Young people in fishing community, 15–24

**^c

Mavodza et al., 2021

Zimbabwe

Youth 16–24

*****a

Rita Nakalega et al., 2023

Uganda

Young women 18–24

*****^a