Gender-Based Violence Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women: A Neglected Consequence of the West African Ebola Outbreak

Author(s):  
Monica Adhiambo Onyango ◽  
Kirsten Resnick ◽  
Alexandra Davis ◽  
Rupal Ramesh Shah
Author(s):  
Anthony Wainaina Ndungu

Gender Based Violence is a universal catastrophe affecting global health, and thus development and is a major human rights concern. This study’s major objective was to establish what extent gender-based violence prevention influence performance of HIV prevention projects for young women and teenagers in Kisumu County. The study population constituted of teenage girls, and young women enrolled in HIV prevention projects implemented in Kisumu County for at least two years. Interviews were also conducted with key project implementers including project managers and monitoring and evaluation managers. Data collection for the study was done by utilizing data collection tools which included focused group discussion, structured questionnaires and an interview guide. 364 respondents were taken from 89,611 adolescents enrolled in HIV prevention projects using stratified random sampling technique. For descriptive data the study employed percentages, frequencies Arithmetic Mean as analytical tools of analysis. The Pearson’s value and Linear Regression were manipulated as statistical tools for inferential statistics. To test the hypotheses, the Fisher (F) test utilized. Descriptive statistics showed that gender-based violence prevention has a noteworthy effect on the production of HIV prevention projects for young women and adolescent girls in Kisumu County. The value of r2 was 0.452, indicating that gender-based violence prevention explained 45.2% of the change in the effectiveness of HIV prevention projects in Kisumu. The beta coefficient was 0.623, implying that gender-based violence had a noteworthy statistical impact on the performance of HIV prevention projects (β=0.623, t=10.928, p=0.000<0.05).


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Parinita Bhattacharjee ◽  
Huiting Ma ◽  
Helgar Musyoki ◽  
Eve Cheuk ◽  
Shajy Isac ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We sought to estimate the prevalence and describe heterogeneity in experiences of gender-based violence (GBV) across subgroups of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Methods We used data from a cross-sectional bio-behavioural survey among 1299 AGYW aged 14–24 in Mombasa, Kenya in 2015. Respondents were recruited from hotspots associated with sex work, and self-selected into one of three subgroups: young women engaged in casual sex (YCS), young women engaged in transactional sex (YTS), and young women engaged in sex work (YSW). We compared overall and across subgroups: prevalence of lifetime and recent (within previous year) self-reported experience of physical, sexual, and police violence; patterns and perpetrators of first and most recent episode of physical and sexual violence; and factors associated with physical and sexual violence. Results The prevalences of lifetime and recent physical violence were 18.0 and 10.7% respectively. Lifetime and recent sexual violence respectively were reported by 20.5 and 9.8% of respondents. Prevalence of lifetime and recent experience of police violence were 34.7 and 25.8% respectively. All forms of violence were most frequently reported by YSW, followed by YTS and then YCS. 62%/81% of respondents reported having sex during the first episode of physical/sexual violence, and 48%/62% of those sex acts at first episode of physical/sexual violence were condomless. In the most recent episode of violence when sex took place levels of condom use remained low at 53–61%. The main perpetrators of violence were intimate partners for YCS, and both intimate partners and regular non-client partners for YTS. For YSW, first-time and regular paying clients were the main perpetrators of physical and sexual violence. Alcohol use, ever being pregnant and regular source of income were associated with physical and sexual violence though it differed by subgroup and type of violence. Conclusions AGYW in these settings experience high vulnerability to physical, sexual and police violence. However, AGYW are not a homogeneous group, and there are heterogeneities in prevalence and predictors of violence between subgroups of AGYW that need to be understood to design effective programmes to address violence.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Baron ◽  
Fiona Scorgie ◽  
Lethabo Ramskin ◽  
Nomhle Khoza ◽  
Jennifer Schutzman ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce HIV infection in adolescent girls and young women if used consistently during periods of risk. The EMPOWER study evaluated peer-based clubs incorporating an empowerment curriculum offered to adolescent girls and young women (16-24 years) in South Africa and Tanzania for adherence support. Methods: Using serial in-depth interviews (n=33), we assessed the benefits and challenges of club attendance among 13 EMPOWER participants in the Johannesburg site who were randomised to clubs. We used a summary matrix of coded data to support a narrative, case-based analysis. Four case studies are presented. Results: Club participants reported benefits such as increased self-esteem and self-efficacy, reduced isolation, and greater insight into gender-based violence and strategies to address it. Day-to-day PrEP adherence was not the only topic discussed in clubs; participants also appreciated the safe space for sharing problems (such as relationship conflict and PrEP stigma) and found interactive exercises helpful in improving partner communication.Conclusions: Findings support the use of peer-based clubs using a structured empowerment approach, which may offer valuable PrEP initiation support to adolescent girls and young women in settings with high HIV and gender-based violence prevalence.Trial registration: South African Clinical Trial Register 4353, 15 April 2016


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Baron ◽  
Fiona Scorgie ◽  
Lethabo Ramskin ◽  
Nomhle Khoza ◽  
Jennifer Schutzman ◽  
...  

Abstract Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce HIV infection in adolescent girls and young women if used consistently during periods of risk. The EMPOWER study evaluated peer-based clubs incorporating an empowerment curriculum offered to adolescent girls and young women (16-24 years) in South Africa and Tanzania for adherence support. Using serial in-depth interviews (n=33), we assessed the benefits and challenges of club attendance among 13 EMPOWER participants in the Johannesburg site who were randomised to clubs. We used a summary matrix of coded data to support a narrative, case-based analysis. Four case studies are presented. Club participants reported benefits such as increased self-esteem and self-efficacy, reduced isolation, and greater insight into gender-based violence and strategies to address it. Day-to-day PrEP adherence was not the only topic discussed in clubs; participants also appreciated the safe space for sharing problems and found interactive exercises helpful in improving partner communication. Findings support the use of peer-based clubs using a structured empowerment approach, which may offer valuable PrEP initiation support to adolescent girls and young women in settings with high HIV and gender-based violence prevalence.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Deborah Baron ◽  
Fiona Scorgie ◽  
Lethabo Ramskin ◽  
Nomhle Khoza ◽  
Jennifer Schutzman ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Daily oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) can reduce HIV infection in adolescent girls and young women if used consistently during periods of risk. The EMPOWER study evaluated peer-based clubs incorporating an empowerment curriculum offered to adolescent girls and young women (16-24 years) in South Africa and Tanzania for adherence support. Methods: Using serial in-depth interviews (n=33), we assessed the benefits and challenges of club attendance among 13 EMPOWER participants in the Johannesburg site who were randomised to clubs. We used a summary matrix of coded data to support a narrative, case-based analysis. Four case studies are presented. Results: Club participants reported benefits such as increased self-esteem and self-efficacy, reduced isolation, and greater insight into gender-based violence and strategies to address it. Day-to-day PrEP adherence was not the only topic discussed in clubs; participants also appreciated the safe space for sharing problems (such as relationship conflict and PrEP stigma) and found interactive exercises helpful in improving partner communication.Conclusions: Findings support the use of peer-based clubs using a structured empowerment approach, which may offer valuable PrEP initiation support to adolescent girls and young women in settings with high HIV and gender-based violence prevalence.


Author(s):  
Caroline Mtaita ◽  
Samuel Likindikoki ◽  
Maureen McGowan ◽  
Rose Mpembeni ◽  
Elvis Safary ◽  
...  

Many adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) experience gender–based violence (GBV) in Tanzania and only few seek GBV health services following violence. The objectives of our study are (1) to evaluate knowledge of gender–based violence among AGYW, (2) to explore their perceptions of and experiences with GBV health service quality and (3) to evaluate access to comprehensive GBV services. This study employed an explanatory, sequential mixed methods design in two districts of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (Kinondoni and Temeke). A quantitative cross–sectional survey among AGYW (n = 403) between 15–24 years old was performed to assess their knowledge of GBV as well as perceptions of and experiences with GBV health services. The quantitative data was complemented by 20 semi–structured in–depth interviews with participants. Out of 403 study participants, more than three quarters (77.9%) had moderate to good knowledge of how GBV is defined and what constitutes gender-based violence. However, few participants (30.7%, n = 124) demonstrated knowledge of GBV health services offered at local health facilities. For example, only 10.7% (n = 43) of participants reported knowledge of forensic evidence collection. Additionally, of 374 participants (93% of total participants) who reported to have received GBV education sessions, only 66% accessed GBV health services (n = 247) and about half of these (52.7%, n = 130) were satisfied with these services. The study indicated that–despite good knowledge about what constituted GBV–knowledge about the roles and availability of GBV health services was limited and utilization of GBV health services remained low. Coordinated actions need to be strengthened to reach AGYW who remain unaware of GBV health services offered at health facilities by improving GBV service quality, bettering interventions aimed at reducing GBV among AGYW in Tanzania, and scaling–up integrated service models, such as GBV one-stop centers.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 278-286
Author(s):  
Kate F. Plourde ◽  
Geeta Nanda ◽  
Elise Healy ◽  
Dennis Kibwola ◽  
Phoebe Mutonyi ◽  
...  

This article describes the development and implementation of the Anyaka Makwiri program and summarizes results from the qualitative assessment of participant experiences. Anyaka Makwiri is a multicomponent mentoring program developed for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) ages 15 to 24 in Gulu, Uganda. The comprehensive program consisted of a curriculum covering sexual and reproductive health (SRH), financial capabilities, soft skills, and gender-based violence and gender equality; activities designed to improve participants’ social connectedness; optional onsite testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV, and pregnancy along with STI treatment; group-based savings; and links to SRH services, including contraceptive and gender-based violence services. The program was implemented over a 6-month period and reached 490 AGYW. Findings are derived from routine program-monitoring data including administrative records, de-identified service statistics, and baseline surveys. In addition, this article summarizes some of the key findings from qualitative interviews with both mentors and AGYW participants, conducted at the conclusion of the program.  Participants generally had a favorable view of the mentoring program, particularly in terms of the curriculum topics they were exposed to, and mentors were also positive about their experiences. Despite the program’s many successes there were some implementation challenges, the most prominent being intermittent participant attendance due to a variety of difficulties. The lessons learned from the implementation of Anyaka Makwiri provide valuable insights for the design and implementation of multicomponent mentoring programs for AGYW.


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