Acceptability, Feasibility, and Preliminary Efficacy of Schools Championing Safe South Africa, a Social Norms Intervention to Prevent HIV Risk Behavior and Perpetration of Intimate Partner Violence Among Teenage Boys.
Outcomes: Gender‑Based Violence, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Sexual and Reproductive Health
View SourceKey Social Norms Takeaways Correcting misperceived social norms—particularly adolescents’ overestimation of peers’ risky or harmful behaviors—can reduce sexual violence perpetration in the short term. Peer- and school-based normative feedback is especially influential during adolescence, as social environments strongly shape behavior; however, norms change alone is insufficient without reinforcement and complementary behavior change strategies.
Objectives This study evaluated the acceptability, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of the Schools Championing Safe South Africa intervention, which aims to reduce sexual violence perpetration and HIV risk behaviors among teenage boys by correcting misperceived social norms.
Methods A pilot randomized controlled trial (N=282 boys aged 15–17) was conducted in two South African high schools (intervention vs. control). Data were collected at baseline, 1 month, and 6 months. Outcomes included sexual violence perpetration, condom use, HIV risk behaviors, bystander intentions, and norms/attitudes. Social norms were measured through a school-based social ecological survey comparing actual behaviors and attitudes to perceived peer norms (descriptive and injunctive misperceptions). Analyses focused on identifying misalignments (≥20% difference) and assessing behavioral change over time.
Intervention Details The intervention combined (1) a school-specific social norms poster campaign and (2) two classroom-based behavioral sessions. Normative data from students and teachers were used to highlight discrepancies between actual and perceived norms (e.g., overestimation of violence or underestimation of prosocial attitudes). Posters emphasized “corrected norms” to promote healthier behaviors, while sessions built skills around consent, bystander action, and HIV prevention using established behavioral theories.
Results The intervention showed high acceptability (99% satisfaction) and feasibility (high fidelity and ~99% retention). Sexual violence perpetration decreased significantly at 1 month: completed acts dropped from 71% to 55% (−15%, p=0.004), and attempted acts from 49% to 25% (−22%, p<0.001). However, these effects were not sustained at 6 months. No significant changes were observed in condom use or bystander intentions. The control group showed no significant behavioral changes. Conclusions: This study provides preliminary evidence that social norms interventions—particularly those correcting misperceptions within peer groups—can reduce harmful behaviors like sexual violence in the short term. The findings underscore that adolescence is a critical period for norms formation and that school-based environments are effective entry points. However, sustained behavior change likely requires longer or reinforced interventions, indicating that social norms change is necessary but not sufficient on its own for long-term impact.
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