Using existing data to investigate relationships between social norms and adolescent health behaviors and outcomes

Purpose

To research the associations between social/gender norms and adolescent health behaviors and outcomes using existing data

Activities

Integrated Delivery is collaborating with the Family Planning PST in increasing understanding of the role of gender norms in influencing behaviors of early adolescents through projects such as the Global Early Adolescent Study, the Images study and the Ethiopia Care Intervention.

This research explores associations between social/gender norms and adolescent health behaviors and outcomes using existing data. Use of existing data is likely to yield actionable information relatively more rapidly than an open-ended, exploratory prospective research approach, which may yield extremely valuable information but requires a much longer period of time and greater financial investment. This body of work will contribute to three papers in The Lancet Series on the Next Generation of Gender Equality: Paper 1 (Unlocking human potential through shaping gender norms), Paper 2 (Unlocking gender norm data), and Paper 3 (Unlocking gender norm change to achieve health and development impact at scale). Additional manuscripts and policy briefs will also be developed, providing new insights into promising approaches to shaping social and gender norms for improved adolescent health behaviors and health outcomes.

Countries of activity

Location of main activity

Further information

The grant will complement these investments by providing information on older adolescents and across a broad range of social and health contexts more rapidly because of the utilization of existing data. The grant will enable Integrated Delivery to initiate work with the MNCH PST in looking at the influence of social norms on utilization of maternal health services.

Filter tags

Behaviour change Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Global Health and hygiene North America Sub-Saharan Africa University, education or research institution

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