Grant: Canada Postdoctoral Research Award (CPRA) program

Gender inequalities and restrictive gender norms are complex factors that impact youth health worldwide. Community-based and gender-transformative (GT) interventions have strong potential to dismantle harmful gender norms, and improve population health, by challenging gender inequalities. While such interventions are also gaining traction in global health, there is limited research on youth-led GT interventions. The TRANSFORM project is addressing this gap by mobilizing youth-led GT interventions across seven countries (Canada, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Argentina, Mexico, India) to explore how gender norms impact sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and mental health. This study aims to examine how youth community engagement can be a lever for gender transformation, advancing health and gender equity in global health. The objectives are: 1) to explore how youth involved in TRANSFORM perceive GT interventions related to SRHR and mental health; and 2) to generate new knowledge on how youth-led GT approaches can challenge gender inequalities in global health. For objective 1, we will conduct virtual focus groups with youth engaged in TRANSFORM. We will focus on their perspectives of GT related to SRHR and mental health, and thematically analyze the discussions, highlighting similarities and differences across locations. For objective 2, we will conduct virtual deliberative dialogue workshops with youth from all locations, during which findings from Objective 1 will be critically discussed. The goal is to develop knowledge on engaging youth in GT approaches to challenge gender norms in global health. I will lead data collection and analysis, collaborate with the TRANSFORM research team and involve youth at every step. This project directly contributes to TRANSFORM's objective of building new knowledge on youth-led GT interventions, while advancing evidence-based GT methodologies that promote gender equality and health equity for youth globally.