Impact of a multilevel HIV prevention programme on adolescent girls and young women’s empowerment for risk reduction: A mixed methods evaluation in Kenya
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study shows that gender norms are central to HIV risk and to the DREAMS theory of change, particularly norms around male authority, female submissiveness, stigma toward girls’ sexual and reproductive health (SRH) service use, and acceptance of violence. While DREAMS contributed to changes in girls’ confidence, aspirations, and peer support, […]
Evaluating the Impact of the “Gender Equity Movement in Schools” (GEMS) Intervention on Gender Knowledge and Attitudes Among Male Adolescents in Bangladesh: A Mixed-Methods Cross-Sectional Study.
Key Social Norms Takeaways: Gender norms among adolescent boys are shaped by a complex interplay of school-based interventions, family environments, peer influence, and media exposure. While structured programs like GEMS can challenge inequitable norms, deeply embedded social norms—especially those reinforced within households—can limit attitudinal change. Norm change is gradual and requires consistent exposure, reflection, and […]
Developmental Trajectories of Transactional Sex and Age-Disparate Relationships During Adolescence: An HPTN 068 Analysis.
Key Social Norms Takeaways: Social norms—particularly inequitable gender norms—play a central role in shaping adolescents’ engagement in transactional sex and age-disparate relationships. These norms influence power dynamics, expectations of male provision, and girls’ ability to negotiate safer relationships. The study highlights that early exposure to inequitable norms and structural vulnerabilities (e.g., poverty, IPV) reinforces sustained […]
Using radio programming to reach young adolescents with gender and sexual health information in a low-income urban setting in Kenya.
Key Social Norms Takeaways: Radio-based edutainment can effectively initiate reflection and dialogue around inequitable gender norms among very young adolescents by creating shared spaces for intergenerational discussion. Social norms are shaped not only by individual beliefs but also by family and community interactions; thus, engaging both adolescents and parents is critical. The study emphasizes that […]
Empowering Youth Through Evidence: Applying Outcome Harvesting to Evaluate Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Advocacy in Ethiopia.
Key Social Norms Takeaways: Social norms around gender, harmful traditional practices, and youth roles can shift through participatory, youth-led advocacy that engages community gatekeepers such as religious and traditional leaders. The study highlights that changing norms is a non-linear, community-driven process, where empowering youth as visible advocates and decision-makers helps reshape expectations around practices like […]
“I have learned that nothing is given for free”: an exploratory qualitative evaluation of a social norms edutainment intervention broadcast on local radio to prevent age-disparate transactional sex in Kigoma, Tanzania.
Key Social Norms Takeaways: Edutainment can initiate shifts in harmful social norms by challenging misperceptions, reducing victim-blaming, and promoting new shared expectations—particularly around gender, responsibility, and transactional sex. However, norms change requires broad community engagement; without sufficient exposure (e.g., among men), entrenched norms persist. The study highlights that norm change begins with individual reflection and […]
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.
Key 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 […]
Correcting misperceived norms: An integrated intervention to prevent adolescent sexual violence and HIV in South Africa.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Misperceived social norms play a central role in shaping adolescents’ attitudes and behaviors related to sexual violence and HIV risk. Adolescents in this study frequently overestimated peers’ acceptance of harmful behaviors (e.g., sexual violence, rigid gender norms) and underestimated prosocial norms (e.g., willingness to intervene, belief in survivors). These misperceptions create […]
Mothers’ intentions to discuss menstruation-related topics with their daughters using the theory of planned behavior
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study demonstrates that social norms—particularly those related to menstruation as a taboo topic, expectations around modesty, and perceived social approval from family and community members—strongly influence mothers’ willingness to communicate with their daughters about menstrual health in Ethiopia. The discussion highlights that subjective norms (i.e., what important others think mothers […]
Parents’ acceptance of human papilloma virus vaccination for their daughters in adet town, North Gojjam zone, Northwest Ethiopia: A mixed method study
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study highlights that social norms—particularly subjective norms shaped by influential actors such as health professionals, religious leaders, peers, and family—play a critical role in shaping parents’ acceptance of HPV vaccination for their daughters in Ethiopia. Norms operate through perceived expectations and social pressure, where approval or endorsement from trusted community […]