How early is too early? Adolescents’ perspective on gender norms and sexual and reproductive health

Abstract

Adolescent risky sexual behaviours and poor reproductive health outcomes have often been linked with gender norms, beliefs and practices that instigate inequalities between males and females. Inequitable gender norms are harmful to both men and women, often placing women and girls as a subordinate to men in sexual relationships thereby diminishing their agency and barring their rights and full potential in regards to their sexual and reproductive health choices.