Two Faiths, One Community: A Faith-based Approach to Addressing Intimate Partner Violence, Unmet Need for Family Planning, and Social Cohesion in Plateau State, Nigeria

Summary:

In Plateau State, Nigeria, prevailing social norms around gender have contributed to high levels of intimate partner violence (IPV) and low levels of family planning (FP) use. Additionally, years of inter-religious conflict between Muslim and Christian communities have led to low social cohesion and disrupted health service delivery. To address these issues, the Institute for Reproductive Health (IRH), Tearfund, and local, faith-based organizations are implementing the Masculinities, Faith, and Peace (MFP) Project, an adaptation of the Transforming Masculinities approach. With the hypothesis that religious leaders (both Muslim and Christian) and communities are key influencers of social norms, MFP seeks to transform harmful norms by reframing local religious beliefs and values to reduce IPV, increase use of FP, and build family and community resilience through inter-religious dialogue. MFP includes women between the ages of 18-35, their male partners, and religious leaders in 10 communities in Plateau State. To inform intervention design, a social norms exploration exercise was conducted in four churches and mosques to assess underlying social norms utilizing participatory techniques such as social network mapping and vignettes. These techniques were conducted with Christian and Muslim young men and women as well as groups identified as important influencers. Findings from this exploratory exercise highlight the importance of engaging community and religious leaders in peace-building and in shifting norms around IPV, FP, and gender equity. They have been critical in actively adapting this intervention to the Muslim faith and the local Nigerian context.

Background/Objectives

Prevailing social norms around gender have contributed to high levels of IPV and low FP use in Plateau State, Nigeria. Additionally, years of inter-religious conflict between Muslim and Christian communities have led to low social cohesion and disrupted health service delivery. The MFP Project addresses these issues by adapting the Transforming Masculinities approach to include both Muslim and Christian communities. This presentation will describe the MFP intervention and our efforts, through a social norms exploration exercise, to adapt the TM approach in a new normative context to transform harmful norms and build community resilience through inter-religious dialogue.

Description Of Intervention And/or Methods/Design

MFP includes Muslim and Christian women between 18-35 years old, their male partners, and religious leaders to reduce IPV, increase FP, and improve social cohesion in 10 communities in Plateau State. Building on the evidence-based TM approach developed for Christian faith leaders and communities, MFP seeks to promote positive masculinities and gender equality. Workshops, trainings, community dialogues and health talks are used to guide religious leaders and congregation members through a process of scriptural reflections to identify, disseminate and embrace new, positive masculinities and take action. To inform intervention design and adaptation, a participatory, social norms exploration exercise was conducted in four communities with young men and women, and groups identified as important influencers. To assess underlying social norms, the exercise used participatory techniques such as social network mapping and vignettes. Rapid analysis was conducted to identify opportunities to strengthen adaptation of MFP to the local normative context.

Results/Lessons Learned

Findings from the social network analysis revealed that mothers/in-law, fathers/in-law and religious leaders have a strong influence on conflict and violence within relationships. Most participants suggested that IPV is neither typical nor accepted behavior within their communities. Similarly, most participants suggested that FP use is both typical and accepted within their communities. However, the same participants strongly endorsed attitudes and social norms expecting women's obedience to men and a husband's control over his wife, including decision-making around FP. This was frequently communicated based on a participants' understanding of religious scripture and includes a husband's right to commit violence against his wife and control her behaviors. Of note, many participants did not approve of emotional and physical violence, but a larger number accepted a husband's right to force sex on his wife. Muslims, young women, and reference groups appeared to be more accepting of gender inequitable norms.

Discussion/Implications For The Field

These formative findings highlight the importance of engaging community and religious leaders in peace-building and in shifting norms around IPV and gender equity. They have led us to refine our intervention design and its components. Specifically, implementing partners highlighted scriptural support for use in sermons and couple dialogues to reinforce couples' and communities' non-acceptance of violence. In addition, religious and community leaders and gender champions will receive increased sensitization on gender equity. Finally, this exercise was critical in actively learning from community members about their challenges and in adapting an intervention to the local Nigerian context.

Abstract submitted by:

Nokafu Chipanta - Georgetown University 

Caitlin Davin - Georgetown University 

Francesca Quirke - Tearfund

Andrew Saman -Tearfund

David Vandu - Tearfund

Prabu Deepan - Tearfund

Bryan Shaw - Georgetown University