Exploring resource scarcity and contextual influences on wellbeing among young refugees in Bidi Bidi refugee settlement, Uganda: findings from a qualitative study.
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Inequitable gender norms—reinforced by dowry practices, expectations of sexual availability, and gendered labor roles—exacerbate the vulnerability of adolescent girls and young women in humanitarian settings. These norms interact with resource scarcity to intensify exposure to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), particularly in contexts of poverty, idleness, and environmental degradation. The study […]
Eat and you will be eaten’: A qualitative study exploring costs and benefits of age-disparate sexual relationships in Tanzania and Uganda
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Age-disparate sexual relationships among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Tanzania and Uganda are shaped by entrenched social and gender norms that normalize transactional sex and male dominance while limiting girls’ agency. The expression “eat and you will be eaten” reflects a widespread expectation that accepting gifts or money from […]
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 […]
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 Perceptions About Use of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in Kenya
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Community norms strongly influence adolescent girls’ and young women’s (AGYW) use of PrEP in Kenya. Stigma around sexuality and misconceptions about PrEP—such as it being associated with promiscuity or HIV treatment—create social barriers to uptake. These norms discourage AGYW from seeking out PrEP, particularly in environments where conversations about sex are […]
Community perceptions of rape and child sexual abuse: a qualitative study in rural Tanzania
Key Social Norms Take-aways: Social norms in rural Tanzania normalize and perpetuate sexual violence against women and children by reinforcing male dominance, stigmatizing survivors, and framing rape as a private or shameful matter, especially when committed by known perpetrators. These norms discourage reporting, hinder access to justice and healthcare, and silence survivors. The study highlights […]
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 […]
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 […]