Adolescents in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly those in low-income urban settlements, are at significant risk for poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes. Most interventions aimed at improving adolescent SRH have focused on older adolescents aged 15-19 years, often neglecting very young adolescents aged 10-14 years, whose emerging sexuality can determine future SRH.
In this study, we will investigate schools as sites for the gendered socialization of very young adolescents in relation to SRH issues; generate evidence on what works to change norms and advance very young adolescents’ SRH at scale; and facilitate the broader uptake of approaches that can foster positive gender norms and improve SRH outcomes in early and later adolescence and adulthood.