Formative assessment of South Sudan Social Norms on family planning and reproductive health and Gender-Based Violence (GBV)

Client
IMA World Health under Momentum Integrated Health Resilience (MIHR) programme
Locations
Bor, Leer, Budi, Yambio, and Wau Counties
Sample size
268
Performance period
March – November 2021

The assessment was commissioned by IMA World Health under Momentum Integrated Health Resilience project – South Sudan (MIHR). The assessment sought to provide evidence to inform the development of USAID/South Sudan’s SBC efforts related to increasing voluntary use of FP/RH care, awareness of GBV, and health-seeking behavior. This assessment investigated social norms related to Family Planning choice and decision-making, Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM), attitudes towards GBV, and decisions related to health-seeking behavior. Information was also gathered on influencers and gatekeepers of social norms in South Sudan.
The following research themes (areas of investigation) guided the data collection to provide an evidence base to inform SBC design, programming, messaging, and monitoring and evaluation;

  1. Understanding of the sample population’s knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions that influence FP/RH, GBV, health-seeking behaviors and practices, and how these may vary across demographic factors (e.g., age, marital status, sex).
  2. Social norms (injunctive and descriptive) that influence individuals’ and couples’ attitudes and intentions around FP/RH, GBV, and health-seeking behaviors, and how they facilitate or limit these behaviors.
  3. Identification of the key influencers, including religious leaders, traditional leaders/elders, and health care providers, and their perceptions and beliefs towards FP/RH and GBV.
  4. Other factors that influence target audience’s intentions, attitudes, behaviors, and norms around FP use, GBV, and family health (e.g., structural factors relating to access, violence and conflict, etc.)

The assessment adopted across-sectional and descriptive study designs utilizing qualitative methods of inquiry to promote an in-depth understanding of social norms in South Sudan and how women and men think about FP/RH and GBV, and to better understand how decisions are made about the use of family planning and related health-seeking behavior. Data was collected vignettes (depiction of real-life stories) and it included in-depth interviews women & men (aged 15-24 & 25-49 years, married & unmarried, key community influencer interviews and key informant interviews.