Capitalising on aspirations of adolescent girls and young women to reduce their sexual health risks: Implications for HIV prevention.
Outcomes: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
View SourceKey Social Norms Take-aways Social norms around femininity, peer status, and marriage heavily dictate what AGYW perceive as achievable or desirable. Programs must help girls reconcile short-term needs with long-term goals while addressing structural barriers and providing realistic pathways to their dreams.
Objectives This study explored the aspirations of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Tanzania and how these aspirations influence their sexual decision-making and associated risks. It aimed to understand how structural and social norms shape aspirations and inform implications for HIV and sexual health programming.
Methods The study used a qualitative cross-sectional design involving six participatory focus group discussions and 17 in-depth interviews with AGYW aged 14–24 in urban and rural areas of Mwanza, Tanzania. Data were thematically analyzed using NVIVO software, guided by aspirations theory and concepts of agency.
Results AGYW held both short-term and long-term aspirations. Short-term aspirations—driven by peer pressure and social expectations—included acquiring fashionable goods like clothing and mobile phones, often leading to transactional or age-disparate sex. Long-term aspirations included education, professional careers, marriage, and social respect. However, many AGYW lacked the structural support or personal agency to realize these goals, resulting in a disconnect between aspiration and behavior.
Conclusions Aspirations significantly influence AGYW’s sexual choices, and the tension between short-term desires and long-term goals can increase sexual health risks. Interventions should not only address risky behaviors but also engage with the broader social and economic factors that shape these aspirations.
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