Understanding reference groups for norms and behaviour change: the intersection of relationship dynamics and family planning

ABSTRACT

Reference groups can influence an individual’s perceptions of social and gender norms which can affect health beliefs, behaviours, and outcomes. This qualitative study in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo explored young women’s and men’s reference groups for relationship dynamics and family planning. Some reference groups and mechanisms of influence were common to relationship dynamics and family planning. Some exercised influence through certain mechanisms but not others. Understanding these dynamics can contribute to effective interventions which curtail intimate partner violence and increase access to voluntary uptake of family planning, both paramount to advancing the rights and health of women and girls.

KEYWORDS:

• Youth
• health
• sub-Saharan Africa
• family planning and sexual health
• gender and intersectionality
• reference groups

Acknowledgements

FT (researcher) and AM (research manager) of EXPERT S.A.R.L. were based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. AK (Principal Investigator) of the Institute for Reproductive Health and MD (consultant) of Insight Impact Consulting and the University of Illinois-Chicago were based in the United States. AK conceived of the study, developed the study tools, and managed the study. MD coordinated the research activities and led report writing. FT and AM led training and data collection teams. FQ reviewed drafts of the paper and contributed to contextualising the findings. All research team members contributed to data collection team training and data analysis. The authors would like to thank Tearfund DRC and the Eglise de Crist au Congo (ECC) in the DRC for their support for this study. Sincere thanks to all community partners and research participants for their time, enthusiasm, and contributions without which this work would not have been possible.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was sponsored by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Cooperative Agreement #AID-OAA-A-15-0042. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of USAID.