Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Inequitable expectations of men’s and women’s roles, rights and responsibilities tend to be associated with poorer health-related outcomes and behaviours. This study examines the impact of a ‘cash plus’ intervention on gender equitable attitudes among adolescents in Tanzania. The analysis uses quantitative data from 2,012 males and females who took part in both the baseline survey in 2017, aged 14-19-years-old, and the midline survey in 2018, at the end of the 12-week intervention. Building on the national cash transfer and livelihood enhancement programme, the adolescent-focused ‘cash plus’ intervention, randomized at community level, included information and activities on topics related to gender role expectations, relationships and gender-based violence. Gender attitudes were measured using 24 items from the Gender Equitable Men (GEM) Scale. The intent-to-treat impacts of living in the treatment village were estimated on both the overall 0-24 GEM scale and each of its four 0-6-item sub-scales (violence, sexual relationships, reproductive health and disease prevention, and domestic chores and daily life), controlling for gender, age, outcome value at baseline and district fixed effects. There was no evidence of selective attrition or baseline imbalances related to gender attitudes. While the ‘cash plus’ intervention did not have a significant impact on the overall GEM scale, it did increase gender equitable attitudes on the domestic chores sub-scale. The intervention increased gender equitable attitudes to a significantly greater extent among males than females on the overall GEM scale and the sexual relationships and domestic chores sub-scales. The intervention had no significant impact among females.