The power of women’s and men’s Social Networks to catalyse normative and behavioural change: evaluation of an intervention addressing Unmet need for Family Planning in Benin
Outcomes: Sexual and Reproductive Health
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways Tékponon Jikuagou demonstrates that community-based social norms interventions can effectively shift attitudes and behaviors related to family planning (FP) by addressing communication taboos, social expectations, and gender roles. By fostering open dialogue around fertility and contraception within couples and peer networks, the intervention created more supportive environments for reproductive decision-making. While normative change was uneven across all indicators, key shifts in couple and public discussions about FP suggest that even partial movement in social norms can contribute to substantial reproductive health improvements.
Objectives To test the Tékponon Jikuagou theory of change by determining whether exposure to the intervention led to statistically significant changes in social and behavioral outcomes related to family planning, including modern contraceptive use, intentions to use, and unmet need, as well as social norms and ideational factors influencing these behaviors.
Methods The study used a pre/post, cross-sectional quasi-experimental design with a comparison group. Surveys were conducted at baseline (n=1,043 women, 1,030 men) and 14 months later at endline (n=1,046 women, 1,045 men) across intervention and comparison villages in Benin. Multivariable logistic regression and structural equation modeling were used to analyze primary outcomes—modern contraceptive use, intention to use, met need, and perceived unmet need—and intermediate outcomes across individual, couple, and network levels, including norms, communication, and self-efficacy.
Intervention Details Tékponon Jikuagou is a multi-component social norms intervention designed to reduce unmet need for family planning. Implemented in Benin, it used reflective dialogue within existing social groups, outreach by trained opinion leaders, and mass media (radio) to catalyze discussion and shift social expectations around fertility, contraception, and gender roles.
Results Among women, there were statistically significant improvements in intentions to use contraception, met need, and reduced perceived unmet need. Modern contraceptive use increased but was not statistically significant. Among men, both met need and perceived unmet need improved significantly. The intervention also increased couple and network-level communication about fertility and FP and improved self-efficacy to access services. Public discussion of FP became more acceptable, though changes in other social norm indicators were mixed.
Conclusions Tékponon Jikuagou successfully shifted key social norms and interpersonal dynamics, contributing to reductions in unmet need for FP. Engaging communities through social networks is a promising strategy to drive sustainable reproductive health behavior change.
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