TY - JOUR
T1 - How do social norms influence the sexual and reproductive health of very young adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa? A scoping review protocol
AU - Ahmed, Fardawsa
AU - Nyamwanza, Owen
AU - Ladur, Alice
AU - Dambi, Jermaine
AU - Cowan, Frances
AU - Mavhu, Webster
PY - 2025/2/28
Y1 - 2025/2/28
N2 - IntroductionYounger adolescents (aged 10–14 years) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have disproportionate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes due to structural, behavioural, socioeconomic and other factors. Social and gender norms have important consequences for the SRH and wellbeing of younger adolescents both now and over their life course. SRH programming often focuses on older adolescents (aged 15–19 years), overlooking younger ones. This scoping review sets out to explore how gender and social norms influence younger adolescents’ SRH in SSA, to inform tailored interventions.MethodsThe Arksey and O'Malley strategy will be used to review the available literature. Online databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, CINHAL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and African Index Medicus) will be searched for original studies published between 1 January 2000 and 30 September 2024. Further, a manual search to include relevant grey literature will be performed. The steps in the review are: 1) defining the research question, 2) identifying relevant studies, 3) selecting studies, 4) charting the data, and 5) collating, summarising, and reporting the results.ResultsFindings will be reported in accordance with the guidance provided in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) statement.DiscussionThe review will generate the most up-to-date evidence and identify gaps in literature in addition to informing future research on how gender and social norms influence younger adolescents’ SRH in SSA. Findings will inform and influence future interventions and evaluations in this area.
AB - IntroductionYounger adolescents (aged 10–14 years) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have disproportionate sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes due to structural, behavioural, socioeconomic and other factors. Social and gender norms have important consequences for the SRH and wellbeing of younger adolescents both now and over their life course. SRH programming often focuses on older adolescents (aged 15–19 years), overlooking younger ones. This scoping review sets out to explore how gender and social norms influence younger adolescents’ SRH in SSA, to inform tailored interventions.MethodsThe Arksey and O'Malley strategy will be used to review the available literature. Online databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, CINHAL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and African Index Medicus) will be searched for original studies published between 1 January 2000 and 30 September 2024. Further, a manual search to include relevant grey literature will be performed. The steps in the review are: 1) defining the research question, 2) identifying relevant studies, 3) selecting studies, 4) charting the data, and 5) collating, summarising, and reporting the results.ResultsFindings will be reported in accordance with the guidance provided in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Protocols (PRISMA-P) statement.DiscussionThe review will generate the most up-to-date evidence and identify gaps in literature in addition to informing future research on how gender and social norms influence younger adolescents’ SRH in SSA. Findings will inform and influence future interventions and evaluations in this area.
KW - Scoping review protocol
KW - Sexual and reproductive health
KW - Social and gender norms
KW - Sub-Saharan Africa
KW - Very young adolescents
U2 - 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23139.2
DO - 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.23139.2
M3 - Article
SN - 2398-502X
VL - 9
JO - Wellcome Open Research
JF - Wellcome Open Research
M1 - 670
ER -