Youth as Navigators: A Study Protocol to Incorporate Narrative and Visual Methods Into Research on Adolescent Sexual and Gender Development Among Syrian and Jordanian Youth

Abstract

Background: The determinants of adolescent sexual and reproductive health originate in childhood and may stem from prepubescent experiences. There has been limited research on adolescent sexual and reproductive health from a life-course perspective globally, especially in the Middle East. Youth in Jordan are exposed to rigid social expectations and gender roles, which may influence sexual and reproductive health outcomes. The ongoing conflict in Syria and refugee crisis is thought to have altered community norms thereby influencing experiences that lead toward sexual development. Aim: This study seeks to understand how social, cultural, environmental, and biological factors influence adolescent sexual development and reproductive health among Jordanian and Syrian youth. This study will explore how social and gender norms have influenced adolescent sexual development across the life cycle related to key transitions between childhood and adulthood. Study Design and Methods: Sixty-four Jordanian and Syrian males and females aged between 15 and 19 years will be recruited by convenience from community centers in four cities across Jordan. This study will integrate both visual and narrative qualitative methods. By constructing a visual time line during semistructured in-depth interviews, we seek to give youth control in the retelling of their own life stories. Ethics and Discussion: This study has received ethical approval from both international and local institutional review boards. The findings of this study will provide important data on emergent priorities in the field of adolescent sexual and reproductive health, such as those related to gender, sexual maturation, and social norms, that will be of national, regional, and global significance.