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Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

The effect of a community based health promotion intervention to change gender norms among women in a rural community in Sri Lanka

Authors: T. Herath, D. Guruge, M. Fernando, S. Jayarathna, L. Senarathna

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Gender norms practiced by respective societies increase the risk of violence by men against women. To date, there is a dearth of research evidence on changing gender norms through health promotion approaches around the globe, including in Sri Lanka. This study provides an evaluation of effectiveness of a health promotion intervention in changing the acceptance of gender norms among women.

Methods

A quasi-experimental study was conducted in two rural villages in Anuradhapura district in Sri Lanka including women who have a child under five years of age. One village was allocated to receive an intervention developed based on a health promotion approach and the other village was a control. A community based mechanism to question selected gender norms among women was developed as the intervention. The pre- and post-intervention assessments of the level of acceptance of gender norms were done using an interviewer administered questionnaire and by using focus group discussions.

Results

Following the intervention, acceptances of prominent gender norms were changed significantly among the women receiving the intervention method. The control group showed no changes towards the acceptance of gender norms during this period. Women in the intervention group had higher levels of self-reported positive behavior changes and greater understanding of gender concepts compared to the control group.

Conclusion

The acceptance of gender norms among women in rural villages in Sri Lanka can be changed by a community based intervention targeting gender norms.
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Metadata
Title
The effect of a community based health promotion intervention to change gender norms among women in a rural community in Sri Lanka
Authors
T. Herath
D. Guruge
M. Fernando
S. Jayarathna
L. Senarathna
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5914-7

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