scholarly journals High rates of sexual violence by both intimate and non-intimate partners experienced by adolescent girls and young women in Kenya and Zambia: Findings around violence and other negative health outcomes

PLoS ONE ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. e0203929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanyukta Mathur ◽  
Jerry Okal ◽  
Maurice Musheke ◽  
Nanlesta Pilgrim ◽  
Sangram Kishor Patel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Intimate Partners ◽  
Negative Health Outcomes

scholarly journals Prevalence and patterns of gender-based violence across adolescent girls and young women in Mombasa, Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Parinita Bhattacharjee ◽  
Huiting Ma ◽  
Helgar Musyoki ◽  
Eve Cheuk ◽  
Shajy Isac ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Sex Work ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Casual Sex ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Intimate Partners ◽  
Gender Based Violence ◽  
Police Violence ◽  
Gender Based

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.

Predictors of Resilience Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women Who Have Experienced Intimate Partner Violence and Sexual Violence in South Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 088626052110051
Author(s):  
Caroline Kuo ◽  
Ashleigh LoVette ◽  
Nevilene Slingers ◽  
Catherine Mathews
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
World Health ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Intimate Partners ◽  
Hiv Intervention ◽  
Forced Sex

South Africa has some of the highest rates of intimate partner and sexual violence globally, with prevalence ranging from 10% to 21% among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Yet, few studies characterize the relationship between violence and resilience. Identifying factors associated with resilience following exposure to violence can guide the development of strength-based interventions that change modifiable protective factors to bolster resilience. Data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of AGYW aged 15 to 24 years in South Africa that took place from 2017 to 2018. This survey was part of a national evaluation of a South African combination HIV intervention for AGYW funded by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria. A sample of 4,399 observations was achieved through a systematic random sampling frame of 35% of households in districts where AGYW were at highest risk for HIV, and where the intervention was implemented. Resilience was assessed using the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale. Intimate partner and sexual violence were assessed using: (a) an adapted version of a questionnaire from the World Health Organization’s 2005 multicountry study on domestic violence against women, and (b) questions on lifetime experience of forced sex/rape. Nearly a third of AGYW (29.6%) reported intimate partner emotional and/or physical and/or sexual violence in the past year. Nearly a quarter of AGYW (23.74%) reported emotional violence, 17.48% reported physical violence, and 6.37% reported sexual violence from intimate partners. Nearly 8% (7.72%) reported forced sex/rape from intimate partners and/or nonpartners. More equitable gender norms, higher social support, and hazardous drinking were positively associated with higher resilience among those who experienced physical or sexual violence. This study addresses a gap in the resilience and violence literature. Future research should focus on the development of resilience-promoting interventions for individuals who have experienced violence.

scholarly journals Mental health outcomes of a pilot 2-arm randomized controlled trial of a HIV-prevention program for South African adolescent girls and young women and their female caregivers

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Geri Donenberg ◽  
Katherine G. Merrill ◽  
Millicent Atujuna ◽  
Erin Emerson ◽  
Bethany Bray ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Logistic Regression ◽  
Hiv Prevention ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
South African ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Sexual And Reproductive Health

Abstract Background South African adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) report significant mental distress and sexual and reproductive health concerns. Mental health problems and trauma symptoms are consistently associated with sexual and reproductive health behavior. Despite their intersection, few interventions address them simultaneously or engage female caregivers (FC) as collaborators. This study presents findings from a pilot test of an empirically supported culturally adapted family-based HIV-prevention program, Informed Motivated Aware and Responsible Adolescents and Adults- South Africa (IMARA-SA), on AGYW anxiety, depression, and trauma. Methods Sixty 15–19-year-old AGYW (mean age = 17.1 years) and their FC from outside Cape Town were randomized to IMARA-SA or a health promotion control program. AGYW reported their anxiety using the GAD-7, depression using the PHQ-9, and trauma using the PC-PTSD-5 at baseline and follow-up (6–10 months post). Both interventions were delivered by Xhosa-speaking Black South African women in groups over 2 days for approximately 10 h. We examined intervention effects using zero-inflated negative binomial regression for anxiety, multinomial logistic regression for depression, and logistic regression for trauma. Results At baseline, groups did not differ in demographic characteristics but AGYW randomized to IMARA-SA had higher depression scores than controls (p = 0.04) and a greater proportion screened positive for PTSD (p = .07). Controlling for baseline mental health scores, AGYW who received IMARA-SA compared to controls had significantly fewer anxiety symptoms at follow-up (adjusted incidence rate ratio for count model = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.29–0.99, p = 0.05), were less likely to report at least one depressive symptom relative to no symptoms (relative risk ratio = 0.22, 95% CI = 0.05, 0.95, p = 0.04), and were less likely to report symptoms of PTSD relative to no symptoms, but this difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions Mental health is implicated in risky sexual behavior, and reducing emotional distress can mitigate exposure to poor sexual and reproductive health outcomes. This pilot study yielded promising findings for the mental health impact of IMARA-SA, justifying replication in a larger randomized trial. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov Number NCT04758390, accepted 17/02/2021.

scholarly journals Association between sexual violence and unintended pregnancy among adolescent girls and young women in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Idowu Ajayi ◽  
Henrietta Chinelo Ezegbe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Unintended Pregnancy ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Teenage Pregnancy ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Unintended Pregnancies

Abstract Background Unintended pregnancy has dire consequences on the health and socioeconomic wellbeing of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) (aged 15–24 years). While most studies tend to focus on lack of access to contraceptive information and services, and poverty as the main contributing factor to early-unintended pregnancies, the influence of sexual violence has received limited attention. Understanding the link between sexual violence and unintended pregnancy is critical towards developing a multifaceted intervention to reduce unintended pregnancies among AGYW in South Africa, a country with high teenage pregnancy rate. Thus, we estimated the magnitude of unintended pregnancy among AGYW and also examined the effect of sexual violence on unintended pregnancy. Methods Our study adopted a cross-sectional design, and data were obtained from AGYW in a South African university between June and November 2018. A final sample of 451 girls aged 17–24 years, selected using stratified sampling, were included in the analysis. We used adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression analysis to examine the effect of sexual violence on unintended pregnancy. Results The analysis shows that 41.9% of all respondents had experienced an unintended pregnancy, and 26.3% of those unintended pregnancies ended in abortions. Unintended pregnancy was higher among survivors of sexual violence (54.4%) compared to those who never experienced sexual abuse (34.3%). In the multivariable analysis, sexual violence was consistently and robustly associated with increased odds of having an unintended pregnancy (AOR:1.70; 95% CI: 1.08–2.68). Conclusion Our study found a huge magnitude of unintended pregnancy among AGYW. Sexual violence is an important predictor of unintended pregnancy in this age cohort. Thus, addressing unintended pregnancies among AGYW in South Africa requires interventions that not only increase access to contraceptive information and services but also reduce sexual violence and cater for survivors.

Sexual Violence Prevalence and Related Pregnancy Among Girls and Young Women: A Multicountry Analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052093636
Author(s):  
Caroline E. Stamatakis ◽  
Steven A. Sumner ◽  
Greta Massetti ◽  
Howard Kress ◽  
Kathleen C. Basile ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Sexual Debut ◽  
Significant Proportion ◽  
Recent Experience ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Violence Prevalence

This study aims to quantify the prevalence of forced sex, pressured sex, and related pregnancy among adolescent girls and young women in five low- and middle-income countries. Nationally representative, cross-sectional household surveys were conducted in Haiti, Malawi, Nigeria, Zambia, and Uganda among girls and young women aged 13 to 24 years. A stratified three-stage cluster sample design was used. Respondents were interviewed to assess prevalence of sexual violence, pregnancy related to the first or most recent experience of forced or pressured sex, relationship to perpetrator, mean age at sexual debut, mean age at pregnancy related to forced or pressured sex, and prevalence of forced/coerced sexual debut. Frequencies, weighted percentages, and weighted means are presented. The lifetime prevalence of forced or pressured sex ranged from 10.4% to 18.0%. Among these adolescent girls and young women, the percentage who experienced pregnancy related to their first or most recent experience of forced or pressured sex ranged from 13.2% to 36.6%. In three countries, the most common perpetrator associated with the first pregnancy related to forced or pressured sex was a current or previous intimate partner. Mean age at pregnancy related to forced or pressured sex was similar to mean age at sexual debut in all countries. Preventing sexual violence against girls and young women will prevent a significant proportion of adverse effects on health, including unintended pregnancy. Implementation of strategies to prevent and respond to sexual violence against adolescent girls and young women is urgently needed.

scholarly journals Prevalence and correlates of sexual violence among adolescent girls and young women: findings from a cross-sectional study in a South African university

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Idowu Ajayi ◽  
Elmon Mudefi ◽  
Eyitayo Omolara Owolabi
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Family Support ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Factors Associated

Abstract Background: There is a window of opportunity to address the menace of sexual violence in South Africa, given the formation of the ministerial task team commissioned by the president in 2019 following the brutal rape and murder of a female university student in Cape Town. Epidemiological data on the prevalence and factors associated with sexual violence is critical to understanding the magnitude of the problem and designing interventions towards reversing the trend of sexual violence in the country. Drawing from cross-sectional data from a South Africa university, we examined the prevalence and correlates of sexual violence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Methods: We analysed data of 451 AGYW selected using stratified sampling. Sexual violence was defined as any sexual acts, and attempt to obtain a sexual act without consent. We used adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression models to examine the factors associated with exposure to sexual violence while controlling for relevant covariates. Results: The lifetime and past year prevalence of sexual violence was 37.9% and 25.3%, respectively. A higher prevalence of sexual violence was reported by heavy episodic drinkers of alcohol (lifetime 48.4% and past year 34.0%), those who received insufficient financial support (lifetime 58.0% and past year 35.8%) compared to non-users of alcohol and those who received adequate financial support. AGYW who reported heavy episodic use of alcohol were twice more likely to report experiencing sexual violence compared to non-users. However, individuals who received adequate family support were 76% and 65% less likely to report lifetime and past year experience of sexual violence compared to those who received inadequate family support. Also, AGYW who rated themselves as very religious were 80% and 75% less likely to report lifetime and past year experience of sexual violence compared to those who were not religious.Conclusion: Our study shows that sexual violence affects a large proportion of girls, requiring intervention that not only focuses on increasing social support for survivors, facilitating reporting, and ensuring justice is served, but also target alcohol use reduction and poverty alleviation.

scholarly journals Association between sexual violence and unintended pregnancy among adolescent girls and young women in South Africa

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Idowu Ajayi ◽  
Henrietta Chinelo Ezegbe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Unintended Pregnancy ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Teenage Pregnancy ◽  
Multivariable Analysis ◽  
Limited Attention ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Unintended Pregnancies

Abstract Background Unintended pregnancy has dire consequences on the health and socio-economic wellbeing of adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) (aged 15-24 years). While most studies tend to focus on lack of access to contraceptive information and services, and poverty as the main contributing factor to early-unintended pregnancies, the influence of sexual violence has received limited attention. Understanding the link between sexual violence and unintended pregnancy is critical towards developing a multifaceted intervention to reduce unintended pregnancies among AGYW in South Africa, a country with high teenage pregnancy rates. MethodsDrawing from cross-sectional data obtained among AGYW in a South African university between June and November 2018, we estimated the magnitude of unintended pregnancy among AGYW and also examined the effect of sexual violence on unintended pregnancy. A final sample of 451 girls aged 17-24 years, selected using stratified sampling, were included in the analysis. We used adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression analysis to examine the effect of sexual violence on unintended pregnancy. ResultsThe analysis shows that 41.9% of all respondents had experienced an unintended pregnancy, and 25.9% of those unintended pregnancies ended in abortions. Unintended pregnancy was higher among survivors of sexual violence (54.4%) compared to those who never experienced sexual abuse (34.3%). In the multivariable analysis, sexual violence was consistently and robustly associated with increased odds of having an unintended pregnancy (AOR:1.70; 95% CI: 1.08-2.68).ConclusionAddressing unintended pregnancies among AGYW in South Africa requires interventions that not only increase access to contraceptive information and services but also reduce sexual violence and cater for survivors.

scholarly journals Prevalence and correlates of sexual violence among adolescent girls and young women: findings from a cross-sectional study in a South African university

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony Idowu Ajayi ◽  
Elmon Mudefi ◽  
Eyitayo Omolara Owolabi
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Violence ◽  
South African ◽  
Adolescent Girls ◽  
Young Women ◽  
Financial Support ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Factors Associated

Abstract Background Epidemiological data on the prevalence and factors associated with sexual violence is critical to understanding the magnitude of the problem and designing effective interventions. Drawing from cross-sectional data from a South African university, we examined the prevalence and correlates of sexual violence among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW). Methods We analysed data of 451 AGYW selected using stratified sampling. Sexual violence was defined as any sexual acts, and attempt to obtain sexual acts without consent. We used adjusted and unadjusted logistic regression models to examine the factors associated with exposure to sexual violence while controlling for relevant covariates. Results The lifetime and past-year prevalence of sexual violence was 37.9% and 25.3%, respectively. A higher prevalence of sexual violence was reported by heavy episodic drinkers of alcohol (lifetime 48.4% and past year 34.0%), those who received insufficient financial support (lifetime 58.0% and past year 35.8%) compared to non-users of alcohol (lifetime 27.2% and past year 17.2%),) and those who received adequate financial support (lifetime 20.8% and past year 13.1%). AGYW who reported heavy episodic use of alcohol had higher odds of reporting lifetime (AOR: 1.86; 95% CI: 1.07–3.25) and past year (AOR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.10–3.75) experience of sexual violence compared to non-users. However, individuals who received adequate family financial support were 76% and 65% less likely to report lifetime and past year experience of sexual violence than those who received inadequate family financial support. Also, AGYW who rated themselves as very religious were 80% and 75% less likely to report lifetime and past year experience of sexual violence compared to those who were not religious. Conclusion Our study shows that sexual violence affects a large proportion of girls, requiring intervention that not only focuses on increasing social support for survivors, facilitating reporting, and ensuring perpetrators are convicted, but also target alcohol use reduction and poverty alleviation.

scholarly journals A Meta-Summary of Qualitative Findings about Professional Services for Survivors of Sexual Violence

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna Martsolf ◽  
Claire Draucker ◽  
Christina Cook ◽  
Ratchneewan Ross ◽  
Andrea Stidham ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Sexual Violence ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Professional Services ◽  
Qualitative Studies ◽  
Professional Service ◽  
Professional Discipline ◽  
Legal Problems ◽  
Negative Health Outcomes

Sexual violence occurs at alarming rates in children and adults. Survivors experience myriad negative health outcomes and legal problems, which place them in need of professional services. A meta-summary was conducted of 31 published qualitative studies on adults' responses to sexual violence, with a focus on survivors' use of professional services. Combined samples included 46 men, 984 women, and six couples who had experienced sexual violence at any point in their lives. Findings indicated that qualities of professional service providers and outcomes of professional services were perceived either positively or negatively (rather than neutrally) by survivors, regardless of the provider's professional discipline. Professionals who work with sexual violence survivors can use these findings to improve their practices.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document