Social modeling influences gender norms: African Transformation

The Health Communication Partnership

End-of-Project Meeting October 2, 2007

Background

Gender constructs support & sustain inequitable gender relations Inequitable gender relations are an impediment to broad-based participatory development in subSaharan Africa Inequitable gender relations are an impediment to positive health outcomesfor men as well as for women, though manifested in different ways

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Proposed programmatic intervention

engage men and women in critical reflection, explore how gender norms influence their lives create an environment where they can plan for action

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Background

Modeled on popular Arab Women Speak Out Theoretical basis:

Freires Empowerment Education (knowledge comes from group discussions, and the knowledge that people already have from within) Banduras Social Learning Theory (people learn new behaviours and identify their own strengths by seeing them modelled in others)

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AT Kit

9 profiles of women, men and couples from Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia who overcame gender barriers and challenges in their own lives and became role models
Facilitators Guide to strengthen skills and lead community based workshops

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AT Guide Topics
Introduction Social Roles Tradition and Cultural Norms Womens and Mens RH STIs/HIV/AIDS Violence Between Partners Life Skills Managing Resources Together Benefits of Social Networks

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Implementation

Implementers: 12 CBOs in 5 Luganda speaking districts

Participants: Men & women in small group discussions, took part in up to 9 sessions of 2.5 hours each Analyzed situation, engaged in critical reflection, planned for action

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Evaluation: June-July 2006

Quantitative: Survey Post-test only with control group design 109 male & 116 female participants randomly selected 110 men & 115 women control group No differences between AT participants & controls, except that male controls more likely to be married 3 months after participation in at least 3 sessions Qualitative: 12 semi-structured interviews
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Shared decision-making
Respondents share the following decisions Daughters/sons level of education The number of children you will have What household items to purchase Whether to use family planning & type When to make a major purchase How to spend the wifes/husbands income Whether the female partner should work outside the home When to sell any household animal or farm produce
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Mean number of shared decisions, by AT participation & sex

0-4 sessions, women 5+ sessions, women 0-4 sessions, men 5+ sessions, men

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Women
8.6 9.1 9.6

Men

10.4

Source: Survey of African Transformation Participants, 2006; N=449; men: p0.01; women: p 0.01
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Social modeling influences decisionmaking

The change was about moneyBecause my

husband used to sell land by force even when I had refused and the money could just be wasted but . . . we now share ideas. I am the one who brought that idea of buying land in the village. (Married female AT participant)

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Equitable gender roles

Respondents who believe that men & women alike can: Be caregiver of children Clean house Cook Shop for household goods Take children to clinic Collect water Work outside the home
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Mean number of roles that can be performed by men & women alike, by AT participation & sex
Non-AT women Non-AT men 3-4 sessions, women 3-4 sessions, men 5+ sessions, women 5+ sessions, men

12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Women
8.2 6.4 6.7 7.2

Men
8.4 9.4

Source: Survey of African Transformation Participants, 2006; N=449; men: p0.001; women: p 0.0001 Range: 0-7; mean # of tasks that can be undertaken by both men and women.
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Percent of respondents who would respect a man more for assuming non-traditional gender roles, by AT participation and sex, Uganda 2006
0-4 sessions, women 5+ sessions, women 0-4 sessions, men 5+ sessions, men

100 80 60 40 20 0

Women
81.6

94.7

Men
61.5

79

Source: Survey of African Transformation Participants, 2006; N=449;

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Normative changes lead to action . . . from the training I learnt to take care of my children just like their mother does. Whenever people meet me along the road, they are amazed how Ive managed to take care of these children. (Male participant)

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Efficacy to take action

Respondent is confident that s/he can: Take part in activities to improve the community Take part in activities to help reduce or eliminate harmful traditional practices Take part in activities to help reduce or eliminate violence against women Perform tasks that are not traditionally undertaken by members of the his/her sex Organize activities to improve his/her community Get tested for HIV
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Efficacy to take action

Efficacy to take action was positively correlated with participation in AT for both men & women Dose effect: more participation=higher mean efficacy score

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Gender constructs scale*

A womans most important role is to take care of her home and cooking for her family. Men need sex more than women do. Women who carry condoms on them are easy or promiscuous. There are times when a woman deserves to be beaten. Changing nappies, giving the kids a bath, and feeding the kids are the mothers responsibility. It is a womans responsibility to avoid getting pregnant A man should have the final word about decisions in his home. Men are always ready to have sex. A woman should tolerate violence in order to keep her family together. *Adapted from the GEM scale
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Percent of respondents who scored above the mean on the gender scale
0-4 sessions, women 5+ sessions, women 0-4 sessions, men 5+ sessions, men

80 60 40 20 0
Source: Survey of African Transformation Participants, 2006; N=449;
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Women
42.8 25

Men
49.7

70.2

Odds of scoring above the mean on shared decisions, equitable gender roles and efficacy by level of AT participation, Uganda 2006 (N=449)
No AT AT (3-4 sessions) AT (5+ sessions)

4
Age, sex, education & marital status held constant; p .0001

3 2 1 0 1 0.9

2.8

2.7 2.2 1.1 1.2

Shared decisions
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Equitable roles

Efficacy

Odds of scoring above the mean on shared decisions, equitable gender roles, efficacy & action by type & level of workshop participation, Uganda 2006 (N=449)
No workshops 1-2 workshops, no AT AT participants

4
Age, sex, education & marital status held constant; p .0001

3 2.3 2 1 0
Shared decisions

2.4 1.7 1 1 1 1.1 1 2 1.4

1.7 1

Equitable roles

Efficacy

Action

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Conclusions
Participation in AT workshops is positively associated with equitable gender normative beliefs, shared decision making, efficacy to assume non-traditional roles, propensity to take action There is a dose effect (direct effects, controlling for SES) AT also affects these outcomes indirectly through effects on positive gender constructs

Time between intervention & evaluation was too short for comprehensive test of effects

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African Transformation

Questions??

Discussion

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