Addressing Violence Against Women
Gaps in Research
- 1.
- Interventions that reduce commute times and/or ensure easy and safe access to safe public transportation may lessen the risk of sexual violence among adolescent girls.
- 2.
- Strategies are needed to ensure that women are able to complete their PEP regimen.
- 3.
- Programs are needed that link interventions addressing HIV/AIDS and child abuse.
- 4.
- Programs are needed to reduce violence against women who test HIV-positive and/or are already living with HIV.
- 5.
- Effective interventions are needed to reduce sexual coercion among youth.
- 6.
- Interventions are needed to combat gender-based violence of sex workers and women who inject drugs.
1. Interventions that reduce commute times and/or ensure easy and safe access to safe public transportation may lessen the risk of sexual violence among adolescent girls. A study found that long commutes for girls increased the risk of sexual violence.
Gap noted, for example, in Zambia (Chimuka, 2002).
2. Strategies are needed to ensure that women are able to complete their PEP regimen. One study found that travel costs and distance were factors in women not completing their PEP regimen. A meta-analysis found that adherence to PEP is poor in all settings (Chacko et al., 2012).
Gap noted, for example, globally (Chacko et al., 2012) and in South Africa (Carries et al., 2007).
3. Programs are needed that link interventions addressing HIV/AIDS and child abuse. One report found that no PEP access guidelines exist for children who were raped and were under the age of 14. Other studies found high risk behavior among those who had been sexually abused as children.
Gap noted, for example, in Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Zambia and South Africa (Keesbury and Askew, 2010); Philippines (Ramiro et al., 2010); South Africa (HRW, 2003a).
4. Programs are needed to reduce violence against women who test HIV-positive and/or are already living with HIV. A study found that HIV-positive women report that they were subjected to violence upon disclosure of their serostatus. Women living with HIV continue to experience violence (Hale and Vazquez, 2011). A study of serodiscordant couples found that intimate partner violence was more frequent in those who were HIV positive (2.7% as compared to 2.2%). Those women who suffered from violence prior to couples testing continued to experience violence (Were et al., 2011).
Gap noted, for example, in numerous African countries (Were et al., 2011); Kenya (Machera, 2009).
5. Effective interventions are needed to reduce sexual coercion among youth. A study among youth both found high rates of sexual coercion for both males and females which was correlated with early sexual debut and a greater likelihood of multiple sexual partners. [See also Prevention and Services for Adolescents and Young People]
Gap noted, for example, in Uganda (Agardh et al., 2011).