In 2018, Save the Children conducted qualitative research to better understand the influence of social norms on a health worker’s decision to provide contraceptive services to adolescents.

The objective was to explore the root causes of bias via the following questions:

• What are health workers’ attitudes and beliefs related to contraception for adolescents?
• What individuals influence health workers’ attitudes and beliefs?
• How are health workers’ attitudes and beliefs shaped by those influential individuals?

Data were collected in Kibera, the largest informal settlement in Nairobi, Kenya. Both clinical and non-clinical staff participated. While clinical providers (nurses, physicians, pharmacists) are direct service providers, non-clinical staff (receptionists, housekeeping staff, and security personnel) are often the first facility representatives that an adolescent interacts with. Data collection involved interactive and participatory methods to spark discussions.