Understanding attitudes and norms related to sexual and gender-based violence among youth in Jordan: an egocentric social network study protocol

Introduction Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a major public health concern in Jordan, especially among youth. Social acceptance of SGBV is alarmingly high, including among youth. Refugee populations may be at particular risk given limited social support and access to health services combi...

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Main Authors: Jewel Gausman, Areej Othman, Iqbal Lutfi Hamad, Maysoon Dabobe, Ana Langer, Eman Abu Sabbah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-12-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e047615.full
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author Jewel Gausman
Areej Othman
Iqbal Lutfi Hamad
Maysoon Dabobe
Ana Langer
Eman Abu Sabbah
author_facet Jewel Gausman
Areej Othman
Iqbal Lutfi Hamad
Maysoon Dabobe
Ana Langer
Eman Abu Sabbah
author_sort Jewel Gausman
collection DOAJ
description Introduction Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a major public health concern in Jordan, especially among youth. Social acceptance of SGBV is alarmingly high, including among youth. Refugee populations may be at particular risk given limited social support and access to health services combined with increased social and economic pressure and vulnerability. Further research is needed to understand how norms are embodied and reproduced at individual, interpersonal and community levels through relationships between partners, families, peers and community leaders. This study seeks to provide data on attitudes and norms in communities and across youth social networks in order to support gender transformative approaches that seek to change harmful social norms that perpetuate acceptance of SGBV.Methods and analysis This study will collect egocentric data from 960 youth in Jordan (480 men and 480 women) aged between 18 years and 24 years. Individuals will be asked about their perceptions of norms relating to SGBV in their community as well as their perceptions of the attitudes held by up to 15 individuals within their social network. Data will also be collected on the social, economic and demographic variables, refugee status, experience of depression and anxiety, and social support. We will use multilevel analysis to examine individual and group-level associations. We will also assess other network attributes, such as homophily, the role of social engagement, social learning and social support in the transmission of norms and attitudes.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Boards of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the University of Jordan. Rigorous ethical protections will be followed with regard to confidentiality and respondent safety. We intend to publish peer-reviewed papers of our findings in addition to a variety of tools and resources targeting diverse audiences, including policy and technical briefs.
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spelling doaj-art-c227d2f7310c423a986e005daee0ed4a2024-12-08T15:45:10ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552021-12-01111210.1136/bmjopen-2020-047615Understanding attitudes and norms related to sexual and gender-based violence among youth in Jordan: an egocentric social network study protocolJewel Gausman0Areej Othman1Iqbal Lutfi Hamad2Maysoon Dabobe3Ana Langer4Eman Abu Sabbah5Women and Health Initiative; Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard University T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Maternal and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing; The University of Jordan, Amman, JordanJordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, Amman, JordanJordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development, Amman, JordanHarvard University T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USADepartment of Maternal and Child Health Nursing, School of Nursing; The University of Jordan, Amman, JordanIntroduction Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is a major public health concern in Jordan, especially among youth. Social acceptance of SGBV is alarmingly high, including among youth. Refugee populations may be at particular risk given limited social support and access to health services combined with increased social and economic pressure and vulnerability. Further research is needed to understand how norms are embodied and reproduced at individual, interpersonal and community levels through relationships between partners, families, peers and community leaders. This study seeks to provide data on attitudes and norms in communities and across youth social networks in order to support gender transformative approaches that seek to change harmful social norms that perpetuate acceptance of SGBV.Methods and analysis This study will collect egocentric data from 960 youth in Jordan (480 men and 480 women) aged between 18 years and 24 years. Individuals will be asked about their perceptions of norms relating to SGBV in their community as well as their perceptions of the attitudes held by up to 15 individuals within their social network. Data will also be collected on the social, economic and demographic variables, refugee status, experience of depression and anxiety, and social support. We will use multilevel analysis to examine individual and group-level associations. We will also assess other network attributes, such as homophily, the role of social engagement, social learning and social support in the transmission of norms and attitudes.Ethics and dissemination Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Boards of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the University of Jordan. Rigorous ethical protections will be followed with regard to confidentiality and respondent safety. We intend to publish peer-reviewed papers of our findings in addition to a variety of tools and resources targeting diverse audiences, including policy and technical briefs.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e047615.full
spellingShingle Jewel Gausman
Areej Othman
Iqbal Lutfi Hamad
Maysoon Dabobe
Ana Langer
Eman Abu Sabbah
Understanding attitudes and norms related to sexual and gender-based violence among youth in Jordan: an egocentric social network study protocol
BMJ Open
title Understanding attitudes and norms related to sexual and gender-based violence among youth in Jordan: an egocentric social network study protocol
title_full Understanding attitudes and norms related to sexual and gender-based violence among youth in Jordan: an egocentric social network study protocol
title_fullStr Understanding attitudes and norms related to sexual and gender-based violence among youth in Jordan: an egocentric social network study protocol
title_full_unstemmed Understanding attitudes and norms related to sexual and gender-based violence among youth in Jordan: an egocentric social network study protocol
title_short Understanding attitudes and norms related to sexual and gender-based violence among youth in Jordan: an egocentric social network study protocol
title_sort understanding attitudes and norms related to sexual and gender based violence among youth in jordan an egocentric social network study protocol
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/12/e047615.full
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