Conservative social norms, referred to as the 'culture of shame,' prohibited Jordanian and Syrian adolescents from accessing and obtaining accurate sexual and reproductive health information, while participants nonetheless identified diverse sources in their quest for adequate and reliable SRH information.
Key Findings
Results
The 'culture of shame' was the predominant barrier preventing adolescents from accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information.
Adolescents frequently expressed how conservative social norms prohibited them from accessing and obtaining accurate SRH information.
The 'taboo' surrounding SRH in Jordanian society made adolescents feel embarrassed and judged when seeking SRH information.
This cultural barrier was identified across both Jordanian and Syrian adolescent participants.
The shame was associated broadly with topics of reproduction and sexuality in the social context.
Results
Intergenerational dialogue regarding SRH was generally prohibited and limited among adolescents and their parents.
Parent-child communication about SRH topics was broadly restricted across participant accounts.
The sensitive nature of SRH topics affected both adolescents and their parents.
This limitation in family-based communication was identified as a key barrier to SRH information access.
The finding applied to participants from both Jordanian and Syrian backgrounds enrolled in the study.
Results
Despite cultural barriers, adolescents identified diverse sources in their quest for adequate and reliable SRH information.
Participants actively sought out multiple information sources notwithstanding the cultural shame surrounding SRH topics.
The study used thematic analysis of focus group discussions to identify these sources.
Sources were identified by adolescents across both nationalities (Jordanian and Syrian) and genders, as same-sex facilitators guided discussions.
The diversity of sources suggests adolescents are motivated to find SRH information despite structural and cultural constraints.
Methods
The study enrolled 179 adolescents aged 15–19 from community centres in northern and central Jordan using a descriptive qualitative design.
Sample size was 179 adolescent participants.
Age range was 15–19 years.
Participants were recruited from community centres in the four main cities of northern and central Jordan.
Both Jordanian and Syrian adolescents were included in the sample.
Same-sex trained facilitators guided focus group discussions to generate data, which were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Conclusions
The study concludes there is a need for culturally acceptable and youth-friendly SRH services and information for adolescents in Jordan.
Authors state the study 'underscores the need for culturally acceptable and youth-friendly SRH services and information.'
Efforts should be directed towards meeting adolescents' and young people's needs in this regard.
The sensitive nature of SRH topics for both Jordanian adolescents and their parents should be considered in designing interventions.
The findings have implications for programming in contexts with similar conservative social norms.
What This Means
This research examined how teenagers in Jordan — including both Jordanian nationals and Syrian refugees — think about finding information on sexual and reproductive health (SRH). The study involved 179 young people aged 15 to 19, gathered in focus groups at community centres across four cities. Researchers found that a deeply embedded 'culture of shame' around sexuality and reproduction was the main obstacle preventing adolescents from openly seeking or discussing SRH information. Teens reported feeling embarrassed and judged, and conversations between parents and children about these topics were largely off-limits.
Despite these significant cultural barriers, the adolescents were resourceful and identified a variety of sources they turned to for SRH information. The study does not specify in the abstract exactly which sources were used, but the finding that teens actively sought information despite shame suggests unmet need and informal coping strategies. The involvement of same-sex facilitators in focus groups helped create a safe space for open discussion, which was important given the sensitivity of the topic.
This research suggests that SRH programs and health services in Jordan and similar cultural contexts need to be designed with cultural sensitivity in mind — acknowledging the role of shame and family communication norms rather than ignoring them. Simply making information available may not be enough if young people feel too embarrassed or judged to access it. Approaches that are youth-friendly and that consider the perspectives of both adolescents and their parents may be more effective in improving adolescent SRH knowledge and outcomes.
Othman A, Abuidhail J, Abdel Razeq N, Shaheen A, Bushnaq M, Ali M, et al.. (2025). Jordanian and Syrian adolescents' perspectives on where, what and how to seek sexual and reproductive health information.. Culture, health & sexuality. https://doi.org/10.1080/13691058.2025.2487097