Social norms, attitudes, and access to modern contraception for adolescent girls in six districts in Uganda
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study reveals that prevailing social norms in Uganda often inhibit adolescent girls’ access to contraception, especially in certain districts. The belief that adolescent girls should not access contraceptives is widely shared, driven by community attitudes linking contraception with promiscuity, particularly for unmarried or young women. These norms vary significantly by […]
Social normative origins of the taboo gap and implications for adolescent risk for HIV infection in Zambia
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The taboo gap is driven by deeply ingrained gender norms that enforce silence and stigma around adolescent sexuality—especially for girls. Discordance between adult attitudes and behaviors serves as a signal of harmful norms. Effective interventions must confront these contradictions and include peers, parents, educators, and health systems in reshaping the social […]
Social Determinants of Married Women’s Attitudinal Acceptance of Intimate Partner Violence
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study underscores the powerful role of patriarchal community norms in shaping women’s attitudes toward intimate partner violence (IPV) in Bangladesh. Among all community-level factors, prevailing gender norms—specifically the level of acceptance of wife beating in the community—had the strongest influence on women’s own attitudes. The findings reveal that even women […]
Social network and social normative characteristics of married female adolescents in Dosso, Niger: Associations with modern contraceptive use
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social norms—particularly injunctive norms upheld by family—significantly affect girls’ FP use. Kinship networks, more than peers, shape norms around fertility and contraception. Restrictive norms, especially around new brides and motherhood, contribute to social isolation and limited autonomy. Effective FP programs must address these normative environments by engaging family members and fostering […]
Sexual and reproductive health experiences of adolescent girls and women in marginalized communities in Bangladesh
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Deeply entrenched social and gender norms—such as silence, shame, and taboo around menstruation, sexuality, and pregnancy—significantly constrain women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services in marginalised communities in Bangladesh. Norms discourage open communication, foster misconceptions, and restrict behaviors, particularly during menstruation and pregnancy. These norms […]
Shifts in female genital mutilation/cutting in Kenya: Perspectives of families and health care providers
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This study illustrates that social norms—particularly those around cultural identity, marriageability, religious obligations, and control of female sexuality—strongly sustain the practice of FGM/C in Kenya. Despite growing awareness of health risks and legal prohibitions, communities are adapting through shifts in the practice (e.g., cutting at younger ages, medicalisation, and less severe […]
Qualitative evaluation of the Saleema campaign to eliminate female genital mutilation and cutting in Sudan
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The Saleema campaign demonstrates how branding and health communication can be powerful tools to shift entrenched social norms—specifically those sustaining female genital mutilation (FGM) in Sudan. The campaign reframes being “uncut” as “Saleema,” meaning whole, healthy, and untouched, and promotes this identity through positive imagery and messaging. Despite widespread social stigma […]
Quantitative Proxies for Social Norms: A Proposed Approach for Interrogating Clustering, Reference Groups, and Validity
Key Social Norms Take-aways: This article highlights the critical need to rigorously validate quantitative proxy measures of social norms, particularly in IPV research. It shows that norms around IPV, such as male dominance and the acceptability of violence, are best captured using group-level aggregates of men’s attitudes. Men’s social norms were more strongly aligned with […]
Rethinking HIV-prevention for school-going young people based on current behaviour patterns.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Perceived social norms—especially peer expectations around sexual activity—were the strongest predictors of risk behavior. Gender norms that promote male dominance and discourage condom use contribute to risky practices. The study underscores the need to reshape social norms through peer group interventions, gender-transformative education, and community-wide engagement, particularly involving caregivers. Sustainable change […]
Perceptions of peer contraceptive use and its influence on contraceptive method use and choice among young women and men in Kenya: a quantitative cross-sectional study
Key Social Norms Take-aways: The study demonstrates that young people’s contraceptive choices are highly influenced by what they believe their peers are doing. This peer influence appears strongest for condom use, but also extends to other methods among young women. Interventions that seek to improve contraceptive uptake among youth should include efforts to shift peer […]