Norms and sexual relations among adolescents in the context of an intervention trial in rural Zambia.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Adolescents in rural Zambia face conflicting social norms: strong disapproval (injunctive norms) of premarital sex, contraceptive use, and open conversations about sexuality, alongside a widespread (descriptive) norm of transactional sex driven by poverty and peer influence. The RISE intervention reinforced abstinence messaging but failed to shift the restrictive norms that limit […]
A church-based intervention for families to promote mental health and prevent HIV among adolescents in rural Kenya: Results of a randomized trial
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study highlights the role of family and church-based relationships in shaping social norms around adolescent mental health and HIV prevention. The intervention fostered shifts in injunctive norms by reinforcing open communication, gender-equitable attitudes, and joint problem-solving within families. By situating the program within trusted church settings and engaging both adolescents […]
Effect of a gender-synchronized family planning intervention on inequitable gender norms in a cluster randomized control trial among husbands of married adolescent girls in Dosso, Niger
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study provides rare causal evidence that social norms around gender inequity can be shifted through a simple, scalable intervention. Small group discussions facilitated by community health workers created a space for men to reflect on and challenge harmful gender norms. The findings reinforce that changing social norms, requires peer engagement […]
Mediating effects of inequitable gender norms on intimate partner violence and contraceptive use in a cluster randomized control trial in Niger: A causal inference mediation analysis
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study provides experimental evidence that changes in perceived inequitable gender norms among men can partially explain reductions in intimate partner violence. However, it also shows that such norms may hinder improvements in contraceptive use if not addressed. Social norms, particularly men’s perceptions of what their peers believe about gender roles, […]
Effects of the reaching married adolescents program on modern contraceptive use and intimate partner violence: results of a cluster randomized controlled trial among married adolescent girls and their husbands in Dosso, Niger
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study shows that changing gender norms requires different strategies depending on the outcome of interest. Household visits increased contraceptive use, likely by addressing misinformation and providing private support, while small group sessions were more effective in reducing intimate partner violence by creating space for critical reflection on shared gender norms. […]
Prévenir les mariages précoces et forcés au Bénin (PROJEUNES)
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The PROJEUNES (Preventing early and forced marriage in Benin) project demonstrated that addressing early and forced marriage (EFM) in Benin requires shifting deeply entrenched social norms that define girls’ value in terms of marriageability and fertility. The project successfully fostered critical reflection among youth and community actors, challenging beliefs that favor […]
Gender Norms, Violence and Adolescent girls’ Trajectories: Evidence from a Field Experiment in India
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study underscores the central role of social norms linked to gender roles, marriage, and family honor in shaping adolescent girls’ agency and decision-making in rural West Bengal. Norms that prioritize early marriage, family reputation, and male authority constrain girls’ autonomy, particularly around education, mobility, and sexuality. Shifting these norms requires […]
Impact of an Empowerment and Employability Program for Adolescent Girls: Evidence From India
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study highlights how early adolescence presents a critical opportunity to shift gender attitudes and build self-efficacy among girls in India, where restrictive social norms around mobility, education, and employment often limit girls’ potential. The findings show that when girls are equipped with life and employability skills—and when communities, schools, and […]
Family influences on oral PrEP use among adolescent girls and young women in Kenya and South Africa
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study highlights the deep role of family—particularly mothers—in shaping adolescent girls’ and young women’s decisions around pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV prevention. Though the study does not directly measure social norms, it provides insight into prevailing normative expectations about sexual behavior and health decision-making. Many young women feared judgment or […]
Effects of PREPARE, a Multi-component, School-Based HIV and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Prevention Programme on Adolescent Sexual Risk Behaviour and IPV: Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study measured social norms explicitly, focusing on perceived expectations from peers, family, and partners around condom use and delaying sex. The intervention addressed both descriptive and injunctive norms by attempting to shift young people’s perceptions of what behaviors are typical and appropriate in their communities. While the intervention improved knowledge […]