Understudied and underaddressed: Femicide, an extreme form of violence against women and girls.

Little is known about the prevalence and dynamics of femicide, a persistent form of violence against women and girls, due to challenges associated with its documentation. Research by Abrahams and colleagues comparing rates of femicide in South Africa over 18 years, however, suggests that femicide is preventable.

Global prevalence of non-partner sexual violence against women.

Sexual violence against women is a human rights violation and public health concern, with serious implications for women's physical and mental health. Reducing non-partner sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault and other forms of non-contact sexual abuse, is one of the main indicators of the sustainable development goals. World Health Organization estimates, based on available prevalence data from 137 countries between 2000 and 2018, showed that, globally, 6% of women aged 15-49 years reported experiencing sexual violence in their lifetime from someone other than an intimate partner, with prevalence rates varying across regions. However, the reporting, measurement and documentation of the global extent of non-partner sexual violence against women is methodologically challenging, resulting in a gross underestimation of its magnitude and impact. To prevent and respond to this issue, policy-makers must consider interventions on education, access to relevant health-care services, public awareness, and effective and comprehensive legislation. To better estimate the prevalence of both sexual violence overall and non-partner sexual violence, it is essential to continue to strengthen the measurement of non-partner sexual violence, including the types of acts asked about and the mode of interviewing. Further research is needed to understand the cumulative impact of different forms of sexual violence on the lives of women and girls, including sexual violence during childhood and its associated risk with further exposure. Funding is required for more research and implementation of interventions to prevent and reduce all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual violence.

Les violences sexuelles à l'égard des femmes constituent une violation des droits humains et un problème de santé publique qui ont de graves répercussions sur la santé physique et mentale des femmes. La réduction des violences sexuelles qui ne sont pas le fait d'un(e) partenaire, y compris le viol, l'agression sexuelle et d'autres formes d'abus sexuels sans contact, est l'un des principaux indicateurs des objectifs de développement durable. Selon les estimations de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé, qui se fonde sur les données de prévalence disponibles dans 137 pays entre 2000 et 2018, 6% des femmes âgées de 15 à 49 ans dans le monde ont déclaré avoir subi des violences sexuelles au cours de leur vie de la part d'une personne autre qu'un(e) partenaire intime, les taux de prévalence variant d'une région à l'autre. Toutefois, la déclaration, la mesure et la documentation de l'ampleur mondiale des violences sexuelles à l'égard des femmes qui n'impliquent pas de partenaire sont difficilement réalisables sur le plan méthodologique, ce qui entraîne une sous-estimation flagrante de leur ampleur et de leur impact. Pour prévenir et pallier ce problème, les décideurs politiques doivent envisager des interventions dans les domaines de l'éducation, de l'accès à des soins de santé appropriés, de la sensibilisation du public et de l'adoption d'une législation efficace et complète. Afin de mieux estimer la prévalence des violences sexuelles en général et des violences sexuelles qui ne sont pas le fait d'un(e) partenaire en particulier, il est essentiel de continuer à renforcer la mesure de ce dernier type de violences sexuelles, notamment en ce qui concerne les types d'actes sur lesquels portent les questions et le mode d'interrogation. Des recherches supplémentaires s'imposent pour comprendre l'impact cumulatif des différentes formes de violences sexuelles sur la vie des femmes et des filles, y compris les violences sexuelles subies pendant l'enfance et les risques associés à une exposition ultérieure. La recherche sur les interventions visant à empêcher et à réduire toutes les formes de violences à l'égard des femmes et des filles, y compris les violences sexuelles, et leur mise en œuvre doivent être davantage financées.

La violencia sexual contra las mujeres es una violación de los derechos humanos y un problema de salud pública, con graves consecuencias para la salud física y mental de las mujeres. Reducir la violencia sexual fuera de la pareja, incluidas las violaciones, las agresiones sexuales y otras formas de abuso sexual sin contacto, es uno de los principales indicadores de los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible. Las estimaciones de la Organización Mundial de la Salud, basadas en los datos de prevalencia disponibles de 137 países entre 2000 y 2018, mostraron que, a nivel mundial, el 6% de las mujeres de 15 a 49 años informaron haber sufrido violencia sexual en su vida por parte de alguien que no era su pareja, con tasas de prevalencia que varían según las regiones. Sin embargo, la presentación de informes, la medición y la documentación del alcance mundial de la violencia sexual contra las mujeres fuera de la pareja es metodológicamente difícil, lo que resulta en una gran subestimación de su magnitud e impacto. Para prevenir y responder a este problema, los responsables de formular las políticas deben considerar la posibilidad de intervenir en la educación, el acceso a los servicios sanitarios pertinentes, la concienciación pública y una legislación eficaz y exhaustiva. Para estimar mejor la prevalencia tanto de la violencia sexual en general como de la violencia sexual fuera de la pareja, es esencial seguir reforzando la medición de esta última, incluidos los tipos de actos sobre los que se pregunta y el modo de entrevista. Se requiere más investigación para comprender el impacto acumulativo de las diferentes formas de violencia sexual en la vida de las mujeres y las niñas, incluida la violencia sexual durante la infancia y su riesgo asociado con una mayor exposición. Se requiere financiación para investigar más e implementar intervenciones que prevengan y reduzcan todas las formas de violencia contra mujeres y niñas, incluida la violencia sexual.

A framework to model global, regional, and national estimates of intimate partner violence.

BACKGROUND: Accurate and reliable estimates of violence against women form the backbone of global and regional monitoring efforts to eliminate this human right violation and public health problem. Estimating the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) is challenging due to variations in case definition and recall period, surveyed populations, partner definition, level of age disaggregation, and survey representativeness, among others. In this paper, we aim to develop a sound and flexible statistical modeling framework for global, regional, and national IPV statistics. METHODS: We modeled IPV within a Bayesian multilevel modeling framework, accounting for heterogeneity of age groups using age-standardization, and age patterns and time trends using splines functions. Survey comparability is achieved using adjustment factors which are estimated using exact matching and their uncertainty accounted for. Both in-sample and out-of-sample comparisons are used for model validation, including posterior predictive checks. Post-processing of models' outputs is performed to aggregate estimates at different geographic levels and age groups. RESULTS: A total of 307 unique studies conducted between 2000-2018, from 154 countries/areas, and totaling nearly 1.8 million unique women responses informed lifetime IPV. Past year IPV had a similar number of studies (n = 332), countries/areas represented (n = 159), and individual responses (n = 1.8 million). Roughly half of IPV observations required some adjustments. Posterior predictive checks suggest good model fit to data and out-of-sample comparisons provided reassuring results with small median prediction errors and appropriate coverage of predictions' intervals. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed modeling framework can pool both national and sub-national surveys, account for heterogeneous age groups and age trends, accommodate different surveyed populations, adjust for differences in survey instruments, and efficiently propagate uncertainty to model outputs. Describing this model to reproducible levels of detail enables the accurate interpretation and responsible use of estimates to inform effective violence against women prevention policy and programs, and global monitoring of elimination efforts as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of health care providers trained in responding to violence against women: a pre- and post-intervention study.

BACKGROUND: Violence against women is a serious public health concern, and is highly prevalent globally, including in India. Health-care providers [HCPs] can play an important role in addressing and reducing negative consequences of violence against women. We implemented a pre-post intervention study of HCP training in three tertiary care facilities in Maharashtra, India. METHODS: The study used a pre-post intervention design with assessment of HCPs' (n = 201) knowledge, attitudes, perceived preparedness and practice at three time points: before training, after training and at 6 months follow- up. RESULTS: Total median score of knowledge about common signs and symptoms of violence (8.89 vs, 10.00), attitudes towards acceptability of violence (9.05 vs. 10.00), individual (6.74 vs. 10.00) and system level preparedness (6.11 vs. 8.14) improved from pre to post- training. The generalized estimating equation [GEE] model, adjusted for age, sex, site and department, showed an improvement in knowledge, attitudes and preparedness post- training. The change from pre to 6 months follow- up was not significant for attitude. CONCLUSIONS: This package of interventions, including training of HCPs, improved HCPs' knowledge, attitudes and practices, yet changes in attitudes and preparedness did not sustain over time. This study indicates feasibility and positive influence of a multi-component intervention to improve HCP readiness to respond to violence against women in a low-resource setting. Future phases of intervention development include adapting this intervention package for primary and secondary health facilities in this context, and future research should assess these interventions using a rigorous experimental design. Finally, these results can be used to advocate for multi-layered, systems-based approaches to strengthening health response to violence against women.

Child labor, sex and mental health outcomes amongst adolescent refugees.

INTRODUCTION: Refugee adolescents living in camps and settlements in low and middle-income countries are a vulnerable population who face protection and psychosocial risks. This study explores prevalence of child labor amongst adolescent refugees from South Sudan in two refugee settlements in Uganda, to understand impacts of child labor on mental health outcomes, and examines the influence of sex on these impacts. METHODS: Surveys were conducted in Adjumani and Kiryandongo refugee settlements, Uganda, with 470 adolescents between 13 and 17 interviewed between December 2014-February 2015. Univariate finite mixture modeling identified a two-cluster model of child labor. Logistic regression models assessed the association of child labor and mental health. RESULTS: A two-cluster solution for child labor activity was determined among the 332 adolescents who self-reported engaging in any child labor (Significant child labor: n = 174, 37%; moderate child labor cluster: n = 158, 34%; no child labor cluster: n = 138, 29%. Odds of depression amongst adolescents exposed to significant vs. no child labor was 4.15 (95% CI: 2.01-8.56), in a model examining interaction of sex and child labor and controlling for socio-demographic variables. For the anxiety outcome, girls exposed to significant vs. no child labor are less likely to report higher levels of anxiety (OR: 0.29, 95% CI: 0.09-0.90). CONCLUSIONS: Adolescents living in refugee settlements in Uganda report high levels of participation in child labor. Protection of adolescents from the risks involved with child labor in refugee contexts is an important and often over-looked area of child protection in humanitarian settings.

The influence of caregiver depression on adolescent mental health outcomes: findings from refugee settlements in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Family-level predictors, including caregiver depression, are considered important influences on adolescent mental health. Adolescent depression and anxiety in refugee settings is known to be a significant public health concern, yet there is very limited literature from humanitarian settings focusing on the relationship between caregiver mental health and adolescent mental health. In the context of a larger study on child protection outcomes in refugee settings, researchers explored the relationship between caregiver depression and adolescent mental health in two refugee settlements, Kiryandongo and Adjumani, in Uganda. METHODS: Adolescents between 13 and 17 and their caregivers participated in a household survey, which included measures of adolescent anxiety and depression, and caregiver depression. Analysis was conducted using multiple logistic regression models, and results were reported for the full sample and for each site separately. RESULTS: In Kiryandongo, a one-unit increase in a caregiver's depression score tripled the odds that the adolescent would have high levels of anxiety symptoms (AOR: 3.0, 95% CI: 1.4, 6.1), while in Adjumani, caregiver depression did not remain significant in the final model. Caregiver depression, gender and exposure to violence were all associated with higher symptoms of adolescent depression in both sites and the full sample, for example, a one unit increase in caregiver depression more than tripled the odds of higher levels of symptoms of adolescent depression (AOR: 3.6, 95% CI: 2.0, 6.2). Caregiver depression is a consistently significantly associated with adverse mental health outcomes for adolescents in this study. CONCLUSIONS: Adolescent well-being is significantly affected by caregiver mental health in this refugee context. Child protection interventions in humanitarian contexts do not adequately address the influence of caregivers' mental health, and there are opportunities to integrate child protection programming with prevention and treatment of caregivers' mental health symptoms.

Workplace and security stressors and mental health among migrant workers on the Thailand-Myanmar border.

BACKGROUND: Migrant workers in low-resource settings may experience multiple types of workplace and security-related stressors. This study explores the relationship between these stressors and adverse mental health outcomes, through a study of migrant workers from Myanmar, working in agriculture, factory, and sex industries in and around Mae Sot, Thailand. METHODS: Respondent-driven sampling was used to recruit a total sample of 589 male and female migrants. Trained data collectors administered a survey, which included measures of workplace and security-related stressors, and depression and anxiety symptoms. Multivariate regression models were conducted separately for depression and anxiety symptoms. RESULTS: For male agricultural workers, security stressors (ß = 1.9, p = .001) are associated with an increase in depression symptoms and coercive working conditions are associated with an increase in anxiety symptoms (ß = .8, p = .000). For female agricultural workers, daily hassles and stressors were associated with both depression (ß = 1.5, p = .000) and anxiety (ß = .5, p = .027), and barriers to exit (ß = 3.0, p = .005) and security stressors (ß = .9, p = .010) were significantly associated with increased depression symptoms. In the factory subsample, sexual assault and abuse (depression: ß = 2.7, p = .009; anxiety: ß = 2.8, p = .002) and daily hassles and stressors (depression: ß = .7, p = .007; anxiety: ß = .7, p = .001) were both significantly associated with increased depression and anxiety symptoms for males. Other categories of stressors similarly showed different associations with mental health outcomes between occupational groups, and between male and female migrant workers. CONCLUSION: The differing influences of stressors on mental health between the three occupational groups, and between males and females, indicate the need for targeted and tailored approaches to reduce specific stressors and improve services to address mental health needs. Prevention and response need to recognize the differences in working conditions, vulnerabilities, and needs between occupational groups, and between male and female migrant workers.

Labor migration and mental health in Cambodia: a qualitative study.

Labor migration is thought to have significant mental and physical health impacts, given the risks for exploitation and abuse of migrant workers, particularly among those in semiskilled and unskilled positions, although empirical data are limited. This qualitative study, conducted in July 2010 in Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia, focused on psychosocial and mental health signs and symptoms associated with labor migration among Cambodian migrant workers to Thailand. Two qualitative methods identified a number of mental health problems faced by Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand, including the presence of anxiety and depression-like problems among this population, described in local terminology as pibak chet (sadness), keut chreun (thinking too much), and khval khvay khnong chet (worry in heart). Key informants revealed the extent to which psychosocial well-being is associated with conditions of poverty, including debt and lack of access to basic services.

Mechanisms behind gender transformative approaches targeting adolescent pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries: a realist synthesis protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Adolescent pregnancy is defined as pregnancy at the age of 19 or below. Pregnancy and childbirth complications are the most significant cause of death among 15-19-year-old girls. Several studies have indicated that inequitable gender norms can increase the vulnerability of adolescent girls, including violence exposure, early marriage, and adolescent pregnancy. To address these disparities, gender transformative approaches aim to challenge and transform restrictive gender norms, roles, and relations through targeted interventions, promoting progressive changes. This realist review aims to synthesise existing evidence from a broad range of data sources to understand how, why, for whom, and in what contexts gender transformative approaches succeed in reducing adolescent pregnancy in low- and middle-income countries. METHOD AND ANALYSIS: We employ a five-step realist synthesis approach: (1) clarify the scope of review and assessment of published literature, (2) development of initial programme theories, (3) systematic search for evidence, (4) development of refined programme theories, and (5) expert feedback and dissemination of results. This protocol presents the results of the first three steps and provides details of the next steps. We extracted data from 18 studies and outlined eight initial programme theories on how gender transformative approaches targeting adolescent pregnancy work in the first three steps. These steps were guided by experts in the field of sexual and reproductive health, implementation science, and realist methodology. As a next step, we will systematically search evidence from electronic databases and grey literature to identify additional studies eligible to refine the initial programme theories. Finally, we will propose refined programme theories that explain how gender transformative approaches work, why, for whom, and under which circumstances. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required because the included studies are published articles and other policy and intervention reports. Key results will be shared with the broader audience via academic papers in open-access journals, conferences, and policy recommendations. The protocol for this realist review is registered in PROSPERO (CRD42023398293).

Linkages between maternal experience of intimate partner violence and child nutrition outcomes: A rapid evidence assessment.

BACKGROUND: A strong evidence base indicates that maternal caregivers' experience of intimate partner violence [IPV] impacts children's health, cognitive development, and risk-taking behaviors. Our objective was to review peer-reviewed literature describing the associations between a child's indirect exposure to IPV and corresponding nutrition outcomes, with a particular focus on fragile settings in low and middle-income countries [LMICs]. METHODS: We conducted a rapid evidence assessment to synthesize quantitative associations between maternal caregivers' IPV experience and children's nutrition/growth outcomes (birthweight, feeding, and growth indicators). We included peer-reviewed research, published in English or Spanish after the year 2000, conducted in fragile settings in LMICs. RESULTS: We identified 86 publications that fit inclusion criteria. Amongst all associations assessed, a maternal caregiver's experience of combined forms of IPV (physical, sexual and emotional) or physical IPV only, were most consistently associated with lower birthweight, especially during pregnancy. Women of child-bearing age, including adolescents, exposed to at least one type of IPV showed a decreased likelihood of following recommended breastfeeding practices. Lifetime maternal experience of combined IPV was significantly associated with stunting among children under 5 years of age in the largest study included, though findings in smaller studies were inconsistent. Maternal experience of physical or combined IPV were inconsistently associated with underweight or wasting in the first five years. Maternal experience of sexual IPV during pregnancy appeared to predict worsened lipid profiles among children. CONCLUSION: Maternal caregivers' experience of IPV is significantly associated with low birthweight and suboptimal breastfeeding practices, whereas studies showed inconsistent associations with child growth indicators or blood nutrient levels. Future research should focus on outcomes in children aged 2 years and older, investigation of feeding practices beyond breastfeeding, and examination of risk during time periods physiologically relevant to the outcomes. Programmatic implications include incorporation of GBV considerations into nutrition policies and programming and integrating GBV prevention and response into mother and child health and nutrition interventions in LMIC contexts.

Healthcare Providers' Perceptions and Experiences of Training to Respond to Violence against Women: Results from a Qualitative Study.

Healthcare providers (HCPs) can support women affected by violence, providing a safe way for women to disclose experiences of violence and mitigating violence against women (VAW) through the identification of cases in routine clinical practice. We conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with HCPs in three tertiary facilities in Maharashtra, India, who had participated in training using the World Health Organization curriculum, adapted for the Indian context. n = 21 HCPs participated in in-depth interviews and n = 10 nurses participated in two focus group discussions. The respondents indicated that the training approach and content were acceptable and that the skills learned during the training were feasible to implement. A shift in perspective from viewing VAW as a private issue to understanding it as a health issue facilitated HCPs' response. The training enabled HCPs to recognize barriers faced by women in disclosing violence and their role in supporting disclosure. HCPs reported barriers to providing care for survivors of violence, including a lack of human resources, the time during regular clinical practice, and a lack of strong referral networks. These data can be utilized to inform other efforts to train HCPs in facilities in this setting and provide evidence for ways to improve health systems' responses to VAW in low-and middle-income country settings.

Sociological Theories to Explain Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Review and Narrative Synthesis.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a highly prevalent public health challenge and human rights violation. Sociological theories address social structures to understand prevalence and dynamics of IPV against women. This systematic review aims (1) to identify, describe, categorize, and synthesize sociological theories that account for predictors of IPV against women, and (2) to compare and contrast sociological theories of predictors of IPV against women. Following a structured search of nine electronic databases, members of the review team screened title/abstract and full texts against inclusion and exclusion criteria, to identify studies that engaged with theory/ies of predictors of IPV. Review team members extracted data according to a data extraction template developed for the review. Results are presented using a narrative synthesis approach. Following review of 108 included articles, included articles were grouped into sub-theories. The sub-theories provide differing, yet overlapping, accounts of predictors of male perpetration of IPV and women's experience of IPV. Sociological theories primarily engage with exo- and macro-system levels of the social-ecological framework, yet some also address structural influences on individual behaviors. This systematic review fills a gap in theoretical syntheses of sociological theories of predictors of male-perpetrated IPV against women and also provides critical analysis of how these theories overlap and intersect. While sociological theories may not be able to fully explain all aspects of dynamics of male-perpetrated IPV against women, this overview indicates that there are several compelling components of sociological theory that hold explanatory power for comprehending how, where, and why IPV occurs.

"We will need to build up the atmosphere of trust again": Service providers' perceptions of experiences of COVID-19 amongst resettled refugee adolescents.

Adolescent resettled refugees across the United States have been significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, through socio-economic stressors in households, disproportionate morbidity and mortality in immigrant communities, and social isolation and loss of learning due to school closures and the shift to online learning. The Study of Adolescent Lives after Migration to America [SALaMA] investigates the mental health and wellbeing of adolescents who come from-or who have parents who came from-the Middle East and North Africa [MENA] region and settled in the U.S. There is a gap in understanding of the experiences during the pandemic of MENA-background adolescents in the U.S. The objective of this study was to describe the perspective of educators and other school-affiliated service providers on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and wellbeing of adolescent resettled refugees and access to and quality of education and support services for adolescent resettled refugees. The researchers collected data using in-depth interviews with key informants in Chicago, Illinois; Harrisonburg, Virginia; and Detroit Metropolitan Area [DMA], Michigan, Key informants were school administrators, managers of English language learning services and programs, teachers, therapists, staff of non-governmental organizations and/ or community-based organizations, and case workers. Data analysis was conducted utilizing directed content analysis to develop an initial codebook and identify key themes in the data. Findings revealed a number of pathways through which the pandemic impacted adolescent refugees and immigrants' mental health and wellbeing, with online programming impacting students' engagement, motivation and social isolation in terms of peer and provider relationships. Specific dynamics in refugee adolescents' households increased stressors and reduced engagement through online learning, and access to space and resources needed to support learning during school closures were limited. Service providers emphasized multiple and overlapping impacts on service quality and access, resulting in reduced social supports and mental health prevention and response approaches. Due to the long-term impacts of school closures in the first two years of the pandemic, and ongoing disruption, these data both provide a snapshot of the impacts of the pandemic at a specific moment, as well as insights into ways forward in terms of adapting services and engaging students within restrictions and limitations due to the pandemic. These findings emphasize the need for educators and mental health service providers to rebuild and strengthen relationships with students and families. These findings indicate the need to consider, support and expand social support and mental health services, specifically for refugee adolescent students, in the context of learning and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Disability and intimate partner violence: A cross-sectional study from Mwanza, Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Women with disabilities are at heightened risk of experiencing intimate partner violence [IPV], although the mechanisms through which disability acts as a risk factor for IPV are not clear. OBJECTIVE: We analyzed cross-sectional data (n = 867) from Wave 3 of the MAISHA longitudinal study, conducted in Mwanza, Tanzania, to i) describe the levels of disability and IPV amongst women, and ii) to assess the association between level and type of disability and IPV experience. METHODS: IPV was assessed using the WHO Multi-Country study instrument. Levels of disability (none, mild and severe) were categorized based on responses to the Washington Group Short Set questions. We fitted logistic regression models to determine the risk of experiencing each type of IPV according to disability level and type of disability. RESULTS: We found significant associations between mild and severe disability and different types of IPV. For example, in multivariate analyses controlling for socio-demographic variables, women reporting severe disability were significantly more likely to report physical and/or sexual IPV, sexual IPV. controlling behaviors, economic IPV, and severe IPV, whereas for mild disability compared to no disability, physical and/or sexual IPV, sexual IPV, and economic IPV were significantly more likely to be reported. Cognitive disability was a significant correlate of all forms of IPV apart from physical IPV. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings that specific types of disability and not others were associated with an elevated risk of IPV exposure indicate the need for nuanced measurement and analysis of the association between disability and IPV.

Food Insecurity and Intimate Partner Violence in Mwanza, Tanzania: A Longitudinal Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Food insecurity is a potential predictor of intimate partner violence. This study (1) describes the prevalence of food insecurity and various forms of intimate partner violence experience among women in Mwanza, Tanzania; and (2) assesses the effect of food insecurity and hunger on various forms of women's experience of intimate partner violence longitudinally. METHODS: Women (aged 18-70 years) who reported being in a relationship in the past 12 months, who had participated in the control arms of two randomized controlled trials conducted as part of the MAISHA study were interviewed at four time points (N=1,004 at baseline in 2017). Analyses were conducted in 2022. Associations between food insecurity exposures and intimate partner violence outcomes were assessed, and univariate random effect logistic models were conducted to identify relevant sociodemographic variables (including age, education level, and SES) that were statistically significant. Multivariable random effects logistic models were conducted, including time as a fixed effect, to calculate odds ratios indicating associations between food insecurity exposures and intimate partner violence outcomes. RESULTS: Prevalence of food insecurity was 47.7%, 55.6%, 47.2%, and 50.8% for each of the 4 waves, respectively, with significant difference in proportion of food insecurity between baseline and Wave 2. Multivariable random effects models indicated that food insecurity was associated with increased odds of exposure to all forms of intimate partner violence outcomes, and hunger was significantly associated with increased odds of experience of all intimate partner violence outcomes, apart from controlling behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Results from this longitudinal analysis of food insecurity and women's reports of intimate partner violence experience in a low- and middle-income country setting indicate that food insecurity is significantly associated with all forms of intimate partner violence, apart from controlling behaviors, among women in this sample in Mwanza, Tanzania. Policy and programmatic implications include the need for integrated intimate partner violence prevention programming to take into account household food needs.

Child-led resistance in the streets of the global south: Decolonial perspectives of violence against children outside of family care.

BACKGROUND: Violence against children (VAC) remains an urgent global dilemma and researchers and policymakers alike continue to work tirelessly to devise strategies aiming to end VAC. However, the perspectives and expertise of children themselves remain underrepresented in the drafting and implementation of these strategies against VAC. This paper draws attention to the marginalization of children living outside of family care and centers their perspective. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize the forms of violence experienced by children living outside the family setting in Uganda, from the perspective of children themselves. The paper seeks to position the voicing of this perspective as a form of resistance against VAC from a decolonial perspective. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The participatory research process included a total of 94 participants in various urban study sites in Kampala, Uganda. METHODS: The research team completed this qualitative study within a youth-driven participatory action research (YPAR) framework. Data collection techniques included interviews, focus groups, participatory visual methods and social cartography. RESULTS: Children living outside of family care experience grave forms of emotional, physical and sexual violence. Child participants present survival strategies that can inform future research and policies on violence prevention practice. CONCLUSIONS: The illustration of explicit violence outlined in this study represents a form of resistance children take against their perpetrators. The participatory youth researcher team urges future research and policy addressing VAC in Uganda to center these perspectives and expertise of children and adolescents in both programmatic and research initiatives aiming to end violence against children.

Development of an index to measure the strength of child protection Systems in Refugee Settings: Conceptual and practical considerations.

BACKGROUND: The United Nations Refugee Agency [UNHCR] implements a Framework for Child Protection for refugee children, based on a child protection systems-strengthening approach. Measurement of child protection system strength in humanitarian contexts is nascent, and existing methodologies do not capture the multiple components of the Framework. OBJECTIVE: To develop, pilot and refine a measure of child protection system strength in humanitarian contexts. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The Child Protection Index [CPI] was implemented in two humanitarian contexts - Kiziba Camp, Rwanda and Kiryandongo and Adjumani refugee camps, Uganda, at two time points [Time 1 = T1; Time 2 = T2]. Data collection in Kiziba camp was conducted in December 2013 and October/November 2015, and in Kiryandongo and Adjumani in December 2014/February 2015 and June-August 2016. Participants were staff members of international non-governmental organizations (T1: n = 17, T2: n = 29), local non-governmental organizations (T1: n = 3, T2: n = 2), Government bodies (T1: n = 3, T2: n = 3) and United Nations agencies (T1: n = 14, T2: n = 9) who were purposively selected to respond to the items included in the CPI. Selection was made on the basis of identifying individuals with the most knowledge and expertise to address the questions in the CPI. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative study, conducting key informant interviews based on an interview guide developed to address the items in the CPI, and tailored to the expertise of each key informant. The CPI included scoring, to translate key informants' responses to numerical scores of child protection system strength. RESULTS: The pilot test conducted in Kiziba Camp indicated moderate child protection system strength, with a score of 61/100. At T2, results indicated a change in CPI score of +18.5 to 79.5. At T1, Kiryandongo refugee settlement received a total of 46/100 on the CPI, and at T2, the score improved by 13.5 points. At T1, Adjumani refugee settlement scored a total of 60/100, and at T2, received a total score change of +4.5. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from implementation, adaptation, and evaluation of the CPI offer valuable insights about practicality, validity and potential breadth of measurement of child protection system strengthening in humanitarian settings.

School-based MHPSS interventions in humanitarian contexts: a realist review.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this review is to elucidate the characteristics of school-based mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) interventions in humanitarian contexts and the hypothesised mechanisms by which they influence well-being or learning outcomes. METHODS: We conducted a realist review and searched PubMed, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, PsychInfo, PILOTS and grey literature through January 2022. Eligible studies included children age 6-12 years, were conducted in humanitarian contexts in low-income or middle-income countries, and focused on universal MPHSS prevention in an educational setting, using any study design. Data were extracted and analysed using narrative synthesis and realist analysis techniques to create 'context-mechanism-outcome' configurations that were iteratively developed to modify, refine and substantiate programme theories. RESULTS: Twenty-seven articles, representing 19 studies, were included in the review. We analysed data from 26 articles. Eleven evidenced-informed programme theories were developed at the levels of the child (n=4), teacher (n=3), caregiver (n=2), school environment (n=1) and school managers/administrators (n=1). At the child level, mechanisms related to strengthening coping skills, emotion regulation, interpersonal relationships led to improved psychosocial well-being or learning outcomes. At the teacher level, coping skills and the provision of support to students were linked to psychosocial well-being and learning outcomes. At the caregiver level, strengthening interpersonal bonds trigger improved psychosocial well-being, and at the school environment level, fostering feelings of security was linked to psychosocial well-being and learning outcomes. We did not find any evidence supporting the programme theory at the school managers/administrators level. We found limited evidence of positive impacts of the included interventions to support these programme theories. CONCLUSIONS: These programme theories are a promising start towards ensuring school-based MHPSS interventions in humanitarian contexts better address the well-being and learning needs of children. Future research is needed to support these programme theories and enhance the evidence base.

A scoping review of measurement of violence against women and disability.

INTRODUCTION: Existing evidence indicates that prevalence of violence against women with disability is elevated compared to women without disability. We conducted a scoping review with a focus on measurement to assess the forms of measurement and study design utilized to explore the intersection of violence against women with disabilities, and to identify strengths and limitations in current approaches to measuring violence against women with disabilities. This scoping review is designed to inform current debates and discussions regarding how to generate evidence concerning violence against women with disabilities. METHODS AND RESULTS: We conducted systematic searches of the following databases: PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, CINAHL, PILOTS, ERIC, Social Work Abstracts, International Bibliography of the Social Sciences, Social Services Abstracts, ProQuest Criminal Justice, and Dissertations & Theses Global, and conducted structured searches of national statistics and surveys and grey literature available on-line. We identified 174 manuscripts or reports for inclusion. n = 113 manuscripts or reports utilized acts-specific measurement of violence. In terms of measurement of disability, we found that amongst the included manuscripts and reports, n = 75 utilized measures of functioning limitations (n = 20 of these were Washington Group questions), n = 15 utilized a single question approach and n = 67 defined participants in the research as having a disability based on a diagnosis or self-report of a health condition or impairment. DISCUSSION: This scoping review provides a comprehensive overview of measurement of violence against women with disabilities and measurement of violence within disability-focused research. We identified several important gaps in the evidence, including lack of sex and disability disaggregation, limited evidence concerning adaptation of data collection methods to ensure accessibility of research activities for women with disabilities, and limited evidence concerning differential relationships between types of disability and violence exposure. This scoping review provides directions for sub-analyses of the included studies and further research to address gaps in evidence.

Trafficking, Client and Police Violence, Sexual Risk and Mental Health Among Women in the Sex Industry at the Thai-Myanmar Border.

This study describes sex trafficking and associations with violence and health among female migrants in the sex industry in Mae Sot, Thailand. The mixed-methods study included a qualitative interview phase (n = 10), followed by a cross-sectional survey phase (n = 128). Entry via trafficking (force, fraud, or coercion [FFC], or as minors) was prevalent (76.6%), primarily FFC (73.4%). FFC was associated with inconsistent condom use, inability to refuse clients, poor health, and anxiety. Past-year violence was normative including client sexual violence (66.4%), client coercion for condom nonuse (> 95%), and police extortion (56%). Working conditions enabled violence irrespective of mode of entry. Profound unmet needs exist for safety and access to justice irrespective of trafficking history.