Measuring Agency, Voice, and Gender Attitudes among Adolescents in South Asia

Abstract

Introduction: Voice, agency, and gender attitudes are concepts that are inextricably linked to empowerment, health, and long-term economic well-being for girls, women, families, and communities. The present study is aimed at developing and validating scales for voice, agency, and gender attitudes for adolescents in South Asia. Method: Qualitative and quantitative research was conducted to develop and validate scales for voice, agency, and gender attitudes among adolescent boys and girls in urban, semi-urban, and rural settings in South Asia. There were two rounds of data collection with the first including 460 adolescents and the second round approximately 2 weeks later with 484 adolescents.The formative qualitative phase also included four focus groups with 30 girls and 25 boys between the ages of 10 and 16 years in Delhi and Lucknow, India. Results: Thematic analysis led to the development of survey scale items in both English and Hindi and face validity testing was conducted with 10 adolescents aged 10-14 years in India. The data for validation of the scales were derived from self-reported surveys from adolescents 10-15 years old in public schools located in Delhi, India (urban), Uttar Pradesh, India (rural), and Gandaki Province, Nepal, (semi-urban). Six factors emerged from the analysis, and all six factors maintained dimensions of empowerment and are closely intertwined to voice, agency, and gender attitudes. Conclusions: The measures that emerged from the analysis provide the foundation to expand upon different dimensions of voice, agency, and gender attitudes that are salient to adolescent boys and girls in South Asia.