A cluster randomized controlled trial for measuring the impact of a social norm intervention addressing child marriage in Pirgacha in Rangpur district of Bangladesh: study protocol for evaluation of the Tipping Point Initiative

Child Marriage (CM) is one of the major developmental concerns in Bangladesh, reporting one of the highest rates of CM (59%) globally. To date, interventions to address CM in Bangladesh have failed to seriously engage with social norms that are important contributors to CM. This paper describes the evaluation design of the Tipping Point Initiative that aims to reduce CM through social norm change and increasing adolescent girls’ agency to voice their rights. The Tipping Point Initiative evaluation trial employs a mixed method design. The quantitative component includes a three-arm Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial design, where Arm 1 receives Tipping Point Program (TPP); Arm 2 receives Tipping Point Program Plus (TPP+), a social norms-enhanced version of TPP; and Arm 3 is the Control. The trial covers 51 clusters (villages) in Pirgacha, in Rangpur district, randomized into three study arms (17 per arms). From each cluster, a cohort of 25 adolescent girls aged 12–<16 years were selected randomly for participation in the survey and intervention. Further, a cross-section of adults (six males and six females) were randomly selected from each cluster for survey. Qualitative baseline data were collected from two purposively selected intervention villages in each intervention arm. Thirty In-Depth Interviews, eight Key Informant Interviews and 16 Focus Group Discussion were conducted with adolescent girls, boys, adult women and men. Same strategies have been followed at endline. The intervention was implemented from April 2019 to December 2020. The endline was conducted 10 months after the end of intervention. Intention-to-treat analysis approach will be used for impact assessment. Both narrative analysis and Grounded Theory approach will be employed in analysing qualitative data. The learnings are expected to inform programs and policies regarding what works and does not work to address CM in such social norms intervention in Bangladesh.