Key Social Norms Take-aways This study highlights the potential of community dialogue approaches to shift entrenched social norms around adolescent pregnancy, early marriage, and school dropout in Zambia. Dialogues facilitated critical reflection among parents, reduced cultural taboos around discussing sexual and reproductive health, and fostered more open parent-child communication. Despite cultural resistance to topics like contraceptive use, many parents reported transformative changes in their attitudes and behaviors, embracing education over early marriage as the preferred path for girls.
Objectives The study aimed to explore parents’ experiences and perspectives on the use of a community dialogue approach within a broader intervention to reduce adolescent pregnancy, early marriage, and school dropout in rural Zambia.
Methods This qualitative case study was nested within the community dialogue arm of a larger cluster randomized controlled trial. Researchers conducted six focus group discussions with 48 parents and guardians in Chibombo District who regularly attended community dialogue meetings. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the transcribed discussions.
Intervention Details The intervention was part of the Research Initiative to Support the Empowerment of Girls, which included community dialogue meetings and economic support over a 27-month period. The community dialogue component applied Paulo Freire’s participatory communication model, using films, role plays, and open discussions to engage parents on topics such as education, gender roles, sexual and reproductive health, and myths around modern contraceptives. Meetings were held twice per school term and facilitated reflection and collective action planning among community members.
Results Parents found the community dialogues to be highly effective in challenging cultural norms that contribute to early marriage and pregnancy. The intervention led to improved communication between parents and children, increased parental support for girls’ education, and greater awareness of children’s rights. Parents reported feeling more empowered and responsible, both individually and collectively, for supporting girls’ education and delaying marriage. However, discussing condom and contraceptive use remained culturally sensitive, with some parents still uncomfortable addressing these topics directly with their children.
Conclusions The community dialogue approach fostered greater parental engagement in sexual and reproductive health education and challenged harmful social norms, promoting more supportive environments for adolescent girls. The study illustrates the value of participatory dialogue in enabling social change, though it also underscores the ongoing cultural resistance to certain sexual and reproductive health topics, suggesting the need for continued engagement and culturally sensitive strategies.