Marriage and sexual and reproductive health of Rohingya adolescents and youth in Bangladesh: a qualitative study
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study reveals that among the Rohingya refugee community, social norms around marriage and reproduction are deeply rooted in religious beliefs, gender roles, and protection concerns. Child marriage is widely accepted and tied to norms linking female maturity with readiness for marriage, religious duty, and family honor. Large families are socially […]
Learners’ perspectives on the provision of condoms in South African public schools
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Although South African learners have a legal right to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, social norms—such as stigma, adult judgment, and peer pressure—undermine their ability to access them. Gendered expectations particularly disadvantage girls, who are judged more harshly for seeking condoms or related services. Changing these norms requires respectful, youth-centered […]
Innovative methods to analyse the impact of gender norms on adolescent health using global health survey data.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study emphasizes that addressing adolescent health requires tackling not only individual attitudes but also the broader social norms reinforced by families, peers, schools, and communities. Proxy measures for gender norms—based on patterns of attitudes, behaviors, and their mismatches—offer a powerful tool to identify where social expectations create risks or opportunities […]
Gendered Experiences of Parent–Child Communication on Sexual and Reproductive Health Issues: A Qualitative Study Employing Community-Based Participatory Methods among Primary Caregivers and Community Stakeholders in Rural South-Western Uganda
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study illustrates how deeply rooted gender norms in rural south-western Uganda shape parent–child communication about sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Gendered expectations restrict mothers and fathers to only discussing topics with same-gender children and reinforce unequal socialization, where girls are expected to be submissive and boys are given more freedom. […]
Gender Norms and Structural Barriers to Use of HIV Prevention in Unmarried and Married Young Women in Manicaland, Zimbabwe: An HIV Prevention Cascade Analysis
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study demonstrates that negative gender norms significantly constrain adolescent girls and young women’s (AGYW) motivation and capacity to use condoms for HIV prevention in Zimbabwe, particularly among married AGYW. While traditional norms around premarital sex and condom use are weakening for unmarried AGYW, married AGYW face deeply entrenched expectations that […]
Gender norms, HIV risk, and attitudes towards pre-exposure prophylaxis and other HIV preventive interventions among South African adolescents.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study highlights that simply providing information is not enough; efforts to combat HIV must also address the deeply embedded gender norms and social patterns that normalize male sexual dominance and place girls at greater risk. Strengthening positive parental communication, improving school environments, and expanding youth-centered community engagement are essential strategies […]
Gender Norms, Violence in Childhood, and Men’s Coercive Control in Marriage: A Multilevel Analysis of Young Men in Bangladesh
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study uses the Gender-Equitable Men (GEM) scale to measure gender attitudes, with community-level aggregates from senior men (ages 35–49) serving as a proxy for social norms. Findings show that more equitable community gender norms are linked to less controlling behavior and more gender-equitable attitudes among junior men (ages 18–34). This […]
Gender norms and health: insights from global survey data
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Gender norms—context-specific beliefs about appropriate behavior for different genders—shape health outcomes across the life course. This study highlights that non-conformity to gender norms often results in health harms, especially for girls and women. These norms intersect with religion, wealth, and geography, creating complex patterns of health inequity. Addressing gender norms is […]
Feasibility of an HIV self-testing intervention: a formative qualitative study among individuals, community leaders, and HIV testing experts in northern Tanzania
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Supportive social norms—including beliefs that peers and family members would approve of HIV self-testing (HIVST)—may help drive uptake among high-risk populations in Tanzania. However, social norms were not central in participants’ discussions, suggesting that personal agency and privacy may be more decisive factors in self-testing behavior. Still, leveraging influential community leaders […]
Examining Masculinities to Inform Gender-Transformative Violence Prevention Programs: Qualitative Findings From Rakai, Uganda.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study demonstrates that two dominant, context-dependent masculine norms—“reputation” (cool masculinity) and “respectability” (responsible masculinity)—shape men’s identities and justify violence against women in Rakai, Uganda. Masculinity tied to sexual prowess and dominance over women is socially rewarded among peers, while responsibility, marriage, and fatherhood are valued by the broader community. Both […]