Key Social Norms Take-aways The Momentum project revealed that social norms regarding postpartum family planning (PPFP) remain especially restrictive for never-married adolescent mothers. While the intervention improved contraceptive behaviors across groups, it had limited influence on shifting normative expectations, descriptive norms, and personal agency—particularly among 15–19-year-olds who were never married. These findings underscore how age and marital status intersect to shape vulnerability and suggest that social norms interventions must be tailored to address the stigmatization of adolescent sexuality and unmarried motherhood in Kinshasa.
Objectives To assess the impact of the Momentum project—a multi-component, gender-transformative intervention—on postpartum family planning norms, personal agency, and behaviors among first-time mothers (FTMs) aged 15–24, disaggregated by age and marital status, in Kinshasa, DRC.
Methods A quasi-experimental, non-equivalent group design with baseline and endline surveys was used. The study followed 1,927 pregnant FTMs from six health zones (three intervention, three comparison) over 16 months. Outcomes were analyzed using difference-in-differences models and treatment effects models with inverse probability weighting to estimate average treatment effects across subgroups.
Intervention Details The Momentum project combined monthly home visits and group education sessions delivered by trained nursing students. The curriculum, adapted from Programs M and P, addressed family planning, maternal and newborn health, gender roles, violence, and communication. Community-level social behavior change activities included street theater, influencer dialogues, and mother/mother-in-law engagement. Interventions targeted FTMs, male partners, and household influencers.
Results The intervention significantly improved FP-related behaviors—especially discussions with partners and health workers, method uptake, and modern contraceptive use—in most subgroups. Effects were generally stronger for older FTMs and for those with full intervention exposure. Normative shifts and increases in personal agency were more limited. Among never-married adolescents (15–19), Momentum had no significant effect on FP norms or self-efficacy. In contrast, never-married FTMs aged 20–24 showed improvements in normative expectations and community approval perceptions. Full exposure led to larger behavioral gains compared to partial exposure, especially among unmarried youth.
Conclusions While the Momentum project improved PPFP behaviors among young mothers, particularly those aged 20–24, it had weaker effects on shifting social norms and agency for younger, never-married adolescents. Tailored strategies are needed to address the heightened normative barriers this group faces. To advance reproductive autonomy, future programming must pair service delivery with targeted norm-shifting efforts that engage families and communities in reducing stigma around adolescent and unmarried motherhood.