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A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Associated Factors of Gender-Based Violence against Women in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author

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  • Muluken Dessalegn Muluneh

    (School of Nursing and Midwifery, Parramatta South Campus, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2151, Australia
    Amref Health Africa in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa P.O. Box 20855, Ethiopia)

  • Lyn Francis

    (School of Nursing and Midwifery, Parramatta South Campus, Western Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2151, Australia)

  • Kingsley Agho

    (School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Perth, NSW 2571, Australia
    African Vision Research Institute (AVRI), University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban 4041, South Africa)

  • Virginia Stulz

    (School of Nursing and Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia)

Abstract

A systematic review and meta-analysis were employed to address the associated factors of gender-based violence (GBV) in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines were followed. Ovid Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane Central, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science were used to source articles with stringent eligibility criteria. A total of 4931 studies were found and 50 studies met the inclusion criteria. Pooled meta-analyses revealed that low educational attainment, higher alcohol consumption, substance use, history of child and family abuse, limited decision-making skills, experiencing depression, males having multiple sexual partners, and younger age were found to be individual- and family-associated factors that increase the experiences of GBV. Community tolerant attitudes to violence, women’s unemployment, being Muslim, lower socioeconomic class, food and social insecurity were found to be community- and societal-associated factors of GBV. Alcohol consumption, low educational attainment, experiencing depression, being younger, a history of child and family abuse, tolerant attitudes to violence, and low socioeconomic status were poignant factors associated with GBV amongst women in SSA countries. The need to develop a multipronged approach of intervention is a top priority in SSA to reach the Sustainable Development Goals’ (SDGs) target of 2030 to eliminate all forms of violence. Socio-behavioural change communication interventions at individual and community levels need to be introduced, and interventions need to address the prevention of child and family abuse and increase women’s feelings of empowerment in order to prevent GBV in SSA.

Suggested Citation

  • Muluken Dessalegn Muluneh & Lyn Francis & Kingsley Agho & Virginia Stulz, 2021. "A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Associated Factors of Gender-Based Violence against Women in Sub-Saharan Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-28, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:9:p:4407-:d:540370
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Muluken Dessalegn & Mhiret Ayele & Yeshitila Hailu & Genetu Addisu & Sintayehu Abebe & Haset Solomon & Geteneh Mogess & Virginia Stulz, 2020. "Gender Inequality and the Sexual and Reproductive Health Status of Young and Older Women in the Afar Region of Ethiopia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-14, June.
    2. Amanda Selin & Stephanie M. DeLong & Aimée Julien & Catherine MacPhail & Rhian Twine & James P. Hughes & Yaw Agyei & Erica L. Hamilton & Kathleen Kahn & Audrey Pettifor, 2019. "Prevalence and Associations, by Age Group, of IPV Among AGYW in Rural South Africa," SAGE Open, , vol. 9(1), pages 21582440198, February.
    3. Andrew Gibbs & Rachel Jewkes & Samantha Willan & Laura Washington, 2018. "Associations between poverty, mental health and substance use, gender power, and intimate partner violence amongst young (18-30) women and men in urban informal settlements in South Africa: A cross-se," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(10), pages 1-19, October.
    4. Kade Finnoff, 2012. "Intimate partner violence, female employment, and male backlash in Rwanda," Economics of Peace and Security Journal, EPS Publishing, vol. 7(2), pages 14-24, July.
    5. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
    6. Muluken Dessalegn Muluneh & Virginia Stulz & Lyn Francis & Kingsley Agho, 2020. "Gender Based Violence against Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional Studies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-21, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Canwat, Vincent, 2024. "COVID-19 lockdown: The triple effects on gender-based violence," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 35(C).
    2. Muluken Dessalegn Muluneh & Lyn Francis & Mhiret Ayele & Sintayehu Abebe & Misrak Makonnen & Virginia Stulz, 2021. "The Effect of Women’s Empowerment in the Utilisation of Family Planning in Western Ethiopia: A Structural Equation Modelling Approach," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-14, June.
    3. Wei Wei & Tanwne Sarker & Wioletta Żukiewicz-Sobczak & Rana Roy & G. M. Monirul Alam & Md. Ghulam Rabbany & Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain & Noshaba Aziz, 2021. "The Influence of Women’s Empowerment on Poverty Reduction in the Rural Areas of Bangladesh: Focus on Health, Education and Living Standard," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-18, June.
    4. Helen Cahill & Babak Dadvand & Anne Suryani & Anne Farrelly, 2023. "A Student-Centric Evaluation of a Program Addressing Prevention of Gender-Based Violence in Three African Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(15), pages 1-19, August.

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