Do perceived contraception attitudes influence abortion stigma? Evidence from Luanda, Angola
Key Social Norms Take-aways: In Luanda, Angola, abortion stigma is shaped not only by direct views on abortion but also by perceived norms around contraception and unintended pregnancy. Supportive partner attitudes toward contraception are linked to lower abortion stigma, while community and media messages promoting contraception may unintentionally increase stigma by reinforcing expectations that pregnancies […]
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 […]
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 […]
Condom use at last sex by young men in Ethiopia: the effect of descriptive and injunctive norms
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study highlights the importance of changing community-level norms that stigmatize condom use among young men. Programs should encourage open peer communication and reduce shame related to seeking condoms. Addressing broader attitudes toward premarital sex, masculinity, and gender relationships is essential to creating an environment where young men feel empowered to […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]