Empowering Women or Pleasing Men? Analyzing Male Views on Female Condom Use in Zimbabwe, Nigeria and Cameroon.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Prevailing gender norms in Sub-Saharan Africa position men as the primary decision-makers in sexual relationships, significantly shaping the acceptability and use of female condoms. While female condoms are often promoted as tools for women’s empowerment, male perspectives reveal that female-initiated condom use is frequently viewed with suspicion, particularly in marital and […]
Developing Experimental Vignettes to Identify Gender Norms Associated With Transactional Sex for Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Central Uganda
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study provides strong evidence that transactional sex among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Uganda is shaped by gender norms linking male financial provision to sexual decision-making power. Higher levels of male provision increase perceived social approval of men’s authority and sexual control within relationships, while simultaneously reducing peer […]
Displacement-related factors influencing marital practices and associated intimate partner violence risk among Somali refugees in Dollo Ado, Ethiopia: a qualitative study
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Displacement has led to perceived changes in marital practices among Somali refugees, but underlying gender norms supporting male dominance and women’s obedience persist. While early and forced marriage and polygamy were reported to have declined due to increased education, NGO awareness efforts, and Ethiopian law, many participants still held attitudes that […]
Correlates of condom use and condom-use motivation among young South Africans
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social norms around gender roles, trust in relationships, and HIV-related beliefs significantly influence condom use motivation among adolescents in South Africa. The study highlights how condom use is not just a health behavior but a socially situated act, interpreted through norms about fidelity, respect, and masculinity. Beliefs that condom use implies […]
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 […]
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 […]
Capitalising on aspirations of adolescent girls and young women to reduce their sexual health risks: Implications for HIV prevention.
Key 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) […]
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 […]
Bad girl and unmet family planning need among Sub-Saharan African adolescents: the role of sexual and reproductive health stigma
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Gendered social norms that shame adolescent girls for being sexually active are central to the stigma they face. These norms create major barriers to accessing family planning and must be directly challenged through stigma-reduction strategies. Objectives: This study examined how sexual and reproductive health (SRH) stigma affects adolescent girls’ ability to […]
Approaches to Regulating Adolescent Sexual Behavior in Ghana: Qualitative Evidence from Somanya and Adidome
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study highlights how collective community norms — especially informal surveillance and shared social responsibility — play a key role in delaying adolescent sexual behavior. In Adidome, strong communal norms and active neighborhood monitoring contributed to lower HIV rates, while in Somanya, weakened cultural practices and lower community cohesion were linked […]