Citation
Cannon, Abby C.; Mandal, Mahua; McGuire, Courtney; Calhoun, Lisa M.; Mummuni, Tolulope; & Speizer, Ilene S. (2022). A Vignette-Based Approach to Understanding Social Norms around Family Planning in Three Nigerian Cities. Global Public Health, 17(7), 1379-1391. PMCID: PMC9890377Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms through which social norms shape contraceptive use can help prevent unintended pregnancies in low-income countries. The Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) aimed to increase contraceptive uptake through advocacy, service delivery, and demand generation. Using data from focus group discussions, we examined whether social norms around family planning (FP), and specifically use of modern contraception (MC), varied among women and girls of reproductive age exposed to varying levels of the program in three Nigerian cities. Injunctive social norms were generally unfavourable of unmarried adolescent girls’ use of MC, though participants often shared exceptions for certain types of adolescents whose use of MC would be acceptable. There was greater acceptability for MC use by women who wanted to space or limit pregnancies. Participants reported that norms around FP and MC use have become more accepting in their communities over time. Normative differences between cities were identified. Participants’ perceptions of religious leaders’ support for FP use may have contributed to positively influencing social norms.URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17441692.2021.1928261Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2022Journal Title
Global Public HealthAuthor(s)
Cannon, Abby C.Mandal, Mahua
McGuire, Courtney
Calhoun, Lisa M.
Mummuni, Tolulope
Speizer, Ilene S.
Article Type
RegularPMCID
PMC9890377Continent/Country
NigeriaSex/Gender
WomenORCiD
Speizer - 0000-0001-6204-1316Calhoun - 000-0002-3499-9372
Mandal - 0000-0002-1930-5010
McGuire - 0000-0002-8074-9171