Key Social Norms Take-aways The study reveals a disconnect between injunctive norms (what adolescents are expected to do) and descriptive norms (what they are actually doing). Social norms around age, marital status, and fertility strongly influence contraceptive decision-making. The research highlights that social networks—particularly peers and partners—play a crucial role in circumventing restrictive norms. Programs aiming to shift norms and improve adolescent reproductive health should engage these influencers and foster more supportive environments, possibly through peer education, parental involvement, and partner engagement strategies.

Objectives This study aimed to explore the influences on contraceptive-seeking behavior among adolescent girls aged 15–24 in three Nigerian cities. It sought to understand who and what shapes these behaviors, with a focus on community norms and interpersonal influences.

Methods Twelve focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in Ilorin, Kaduna, and Jos using a vignette-based approach to elicit perceptions around adolescent contraceptive use. Participants were grouped by marital status, religion, and age. Thematic analysis was applied to the transcripts, identifying themes related to social norms and influential relationships.

Results The findings highlight significant resistance to contraceptive use among unmarried adolescents, rooted in injunctive norms that deem both adolescent sexual activity and contraceptive use inappropriate without marriage. Despite this, descriptive norms reveal that adolescents are engaging in sex and seeking contraceptives. Major concerns included potential side effects and threats to future fertility, which underpin community disapproval. Education emerged as a key motivator for seeking contraception, especially among those recognizing the risks of early pregnancy. Influential figures in the decision-making process included peers (as sources of information and modeled behavior), parents (as gatekeepers of norms and sources of guidance), and partners (often decision-makers regarding method choice).

Conclusions Adolescents often navigate a complex landscape of social disapproval and misinformation. However, those with supportive networks—particularly among peers, parents, or partners—are more likely to overcome these barriers. The study underscores the importance of addressing interpersonal and community-level influences in family planning programs targeting youth.