Creating allies: qualitative exploration of young women’s preferences for PrEP methods and parents’ role in PrEP uptake and user support in urban and rural Zambia
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social norms surrounding premarital sex significantly limit open communication between adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) and their parents about HIV prevention and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). These norms hinder AGYW’s ability to disclose PrEP use and prevent parents from engaging meaningfully in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) discussions. However, both AGYW […]
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 […]
Childhood Trauma, Gender Inequitable Attitudes, Alcohol Use, and Multiple Sexual Partners: Correlates of Intimate Partner Violence in Northern Tanzania
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study shows that intimate partner violence (IPV) in northern Tanzania is deeply influenced by gender norms that legitimize male control and normalize violence. Both men and women often accept these norms, with women in some cases more likely to justify IPV. Socialization into inequitable attitudes begins early and is reinforced […]
Collective norms and modern contraceptive use in men and women: A multilevel analysis of DHS Program data in Nigeria and Zambia
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study highlights the powerful role of collective social norms—especially those related to fertility—in shaping modern contraceptive use among both men and women in Nigeria and Zambia. In both countries, higher community-level fertility norms (i.e., desire for larger families) were consistently associated with lower contraceptive use for both genders. However, gender […]
Community Factors Influencing Birth Spacing among Married Women in Uganda and Zimbabwe
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study highlights how community-level gender norms and fertility expectations influence birth spacing practices. In Uganda and Zimbabwe, delayed marriage and childbearing do not necessarily lead to healthier birth intervals. Instead, social norms emphasizing high fertility may pressure women to ‘catch up’ by shortening birth intervals. Norms that tolerate gender-based violence […]
Barriers to contraceptive use in humanitarian settings: Experiences of South Sudanese refugee women living in Adjumani district, Uganda; an exploratory qualitative study
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study reveals how deeply rooted patriarchal and cultural norms among South Sudanese refugee communities in Uganda severely restrict women’s and girls’ contraceptive autonomy. Social norms idealize large families, associate contraception with promiscuity, and reinforce male dominance in reproductive decision-making. Fear of community backlash, intimate partner violence, and the loss of […]
Beyond Individual-Level Theorizing in Social Norms Research: How Collective Norms and Media Access Affect Adolescents’ Use of Contraception
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study emphasizes that interventions aiming to improve adolescent contraceptive use should not only target individuals but also consider the broader collective norms of their communities. Programs should assess both the strength of local norms and the level of media access when designing strategies. Media campaigns may be especially powerful in […]
Centering female agency while investigating contraceptive use: A case study in Agincourt, South Africa
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study illustrates how young women in rural South Africa navigate deeply embedded social norms surrounding premarital fertility, contraceptive use, and abortion. While community norms stigmatize adolescent sexual activity and pregnancy, women demonstrate significant agency in managing their reproductive health. Contraceptive use is framed as a personal responsibility, often requiring young […]
Attitudes, Norms, and Self-Efficacy: Examining Socio-Cognitive Correlates and Sexual Abstinence Among Ugandan Youth Ages 16–18 years, in the Slums of Kampala, Uganda
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The findings underscore the powerful role of peer and parental norms in shaping sexual behavior among Ugandan youth. Programs aiming to delay sexual initiation must go beyond providing knowledge; they should also address the social pressures and normative environments influencing young people’s choices, helping adolescents develop confidence and strategies to navigate […]