The Impact of a Family Economic Empowerment Intervention on Cultural Gender Norm Beliefs Among HIV-Orphaned Adolescents in Southern Uganda.

Abstract

Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) ranks lowest on the UNDP's Gender Inequality Index (GII), with a score of 0.56 out of 1 (1 being the worst), while Uganda scores 0.53, reflecting high gender inequality between males and females. These gender disparities are deeply rooted in longstanding inequitable gender norms and worsened by poverty. This study assessed a family economic empowerment intervention's impact on gender norm beliefs among HIV-orphaned adolescents in Uganda using three time-points data from the Suubi-Maka study, a cluster-randomized trial with 346 adolescent-caregiver dyads. Participants were randomized to control (n = 167) or treatment (n = 179) groups, with data collected at baseline, 12, and 24 months. We used mixed effects linear regression to assess the effect of the economic empowerment intervention on gender norms. Results indicated significant group-by-time interaction effects but non-significant independent group or time effects. Social support was positively significantly associated with equitable gender norms, emphasizing the role of supportive networks in facilitating change in gender norm beliefs. These findings suggest that economic interventions alone may not be sufficient for altering deeply entrenched gender norms, and future efforts should include more targeted, gender-transformative approaches.