Gender-Transformative Interventions for Young Adolescents: What Have We Learned and Where Should We Go?

Area of Science:

• Adolescent Health
• Gender Studies
• Global Public Health

Background:

• Gender inequality significantly impacts adolescent health in low- and middle-income countries.
• Effective interventions are crucial for empowering young adolescents and addressing health disparities.
• Understanding implementation facilitators and barriers is key to successful program design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify facilitators and barriers for gender-transformative interventions in young adolescents (10-14 years) in low- and middle-income countries.
• To provide recommendations for future gender-transformative intervention strategies.
• To synthesize evidence on effective approaches for adolescent health and gender equality.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review of literature published between 2010-2023.
• Inclusion criteria focused on adolescents aged 10-14, gender inequality, and low-/middle-income country contexts.
• Supplemented by expert meetings and key informant interviews for critical reflections.

Main Results:

• Analysis of 59 articles revealed three key themes: tailoring approaches for boys and girls, multilevel strategies, and multisectoral engagement (health, education, sports).
• Identified primary challenges and promising practices for implementing gender-transformative interventions.
• Highlighted the need for context-specific adaptations in intervention design.

Conclusions:

• Continued research is essential to understand characteristics of successful gender-transformative interventions for adolescents.
• More evidence is required on optimal multilevel and multisectoral programming for adolescent health.
• Future interventions should clearly define target populations, levels, and dosages for maximum impact.