Cross-national and multilevel correlates of partner violence: an analysis of data from population-based surveys
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Norms justifying wife beating and endorsing male authority over women’s behavior are strongly associated with higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV). These gender norms not only influence national IPV prevalence but also modify how individual-level factors like education and employment affect women’s risk, highlighting the importance of transforming harmful norms […]
Community Perceptions About Use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Kenya
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Community norms strongly influence adolescent girls’ and young women’s (AGYW) use of PrEP in Kenya. Stigma around sexuality and misconceptions about PrEP—such as it being associated with promiscuity or HIV treatment—create social barriers to uptake. These norms discourage AGYW from seeking out PrEP, particularly in environments where conversations about sex are […]
Community perceptions of rape and child sexual abuse: a qualitative study in rural Tanzania
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social norms in rural Tanzania normalize and perpetuate sexual violence against women and children by reinforcing male dominance, stigmatizing survivors, and framing rape as a private or shameful matter, especially when committed by known perpetrators. These norms discourage reporting, hinder access to justice and healthcare, and silence survivors. The study highlights […]
Community-level HIV Stigma as a Driver for HIV Transmission Risk Behaviors and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Sierra Leone: A Population-Based Study
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study highlights how community-level HIV stigma—specifically stigmatizing attitudes and disclosure concerns—can shape normative beliefs that influence HIV transmission risk behaviors. Stigmatizing norms contribute to low condom usage and increased rates of self-reported sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), especially among women. These norms reflect broader societal fears and discriminatory attitudes that marginalize […]
Condom use at last sex by young men in Ethiopia: the effect of descriptive and injunctive norms
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study highlights the importance of changing community-level norms that stigmatize condom use among young men. Programs should encourage open peer communication and reduce shame related to seeking condoms. Addressing broader attitudes toward premarital sex, masculinity, and gender relationships is essential to creating an environment where young men feel empowered to […]
Contextualized theory-based predictors of intention to practice monogamy among adolescents in Botswana junior secondary schools: Results of focus group sessions and a cross-sectional study
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social norms—particularly those rooted in proverbs, stories, and language—play a powerful role in shaping adolescents’ intentions regarding monogamy in Botswana. Patriarchal norms that valorize male sexual freedom and stigmatize monogamy as a sign of weakness or bewitchment create significant barriers to behaviour change. This study shows that incorporating socio-cultural beliefs into […]
Community Gender Norms and Gender Gaps in Adolescent Agency in Nepal
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study demonstrates that community-level gender norms significantly shape adolescent agency and gender gaps in Nepal. In communities with more gender-equitable norms, adolescent girls show greater gains in intrinsic and instrumental agency compared to boys, reversing or narrowing traditional gender gaps. However, these norms are not uniformly associated with all forms […]
Community influences on modern contraceptive use among young women in low and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional multi-country analysis
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Norms related to ideal family size, early marriage, and gender roles—particularly those that limit women’s autonomy—act as major barriers to contraceptive use. Changing these norms through community-wide interventions, education, and women’s empowerment is essential for increasing contraceptive access and supporting young women’s reproductive agency. Objectives: This study examined how community-level characteristics […]
Changing sex risk behaviors, gender norms, and relationship dynamics among couples in Cape Town, South Africa: Efficacy of an intervention on the dyad
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study approaches gender norms through the lens of individual attitudes, measuring participants’ agreement with statements reflecting equitable or inequitable beliefs about gender roles and relationship dynamics. While not direct measures of collective social norms (such as perceived community expectations or reference group behaviors), these attitudinal indicators reflect how deeply internalized […]
Changing Social Norms in Somalia: Baseline Report on CHANGES Project Addressing Women Empowerment, Female Circumcision and Early Marriage
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The CHANGES baseline shows that while harmful practices like female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and child marriage remain prevalent in Somalia, there is a mismatch between people’s perceptions and actual behaviors. Many overestimate child marriage rates and underestimate opposition to FGM/C. This gap presents a key opportunity for social norms change—interventions must […]