Access to information on gender-based violence prevention during COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda: a cross-sectional study.

Background: During the lockdowns to contain the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda, women and girls, disproportionately, had increased exposure to gender-based violence (GBV). Access to high-quality and empowering information or knowledge to minimise the incidences of GBV for women, girls, men and boys, was, therefore, crucial. The purpose of this study was to understand the characteristics of the individuals who were unable to access such information, and if received information, was associated with more awareness in the populace. Methods: The data analysed were from a cross-sectional nationally representative phone survey of individuals aged 18 years and above from all four regions of Uganda. The survey was carried out by Uganda Bureau of Statistics using a purely quantitative approach, and all questions were closed-ended. The sample was stratified by sex, age, and geographical region, and executed in November 2020, six months after COVID-19 lockdown restrictions. Binary logistic regression analysis was used for data analysis in STATA software. Findings: Female respondents with tertiary education (OR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.26, 0.85) and male respondents with tertiary education (OR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.49, 1.00) were more likely to receive information on GBV prevention. Both female (aOR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.88) and male (aOR = 0.66; 95% CI: 0.50, 0.87) respondents who were working had about a third the odds of being unable to access information about GBV prevention. Female respondents living in urban areas were associated with less odds of being unable to access the information (aOR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.59, 1.00), while unmarried male respondents had higher odds of being unable to access the information (aOR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.89). Respondents who reported being vulnerable to GBV were also more likely to know someone who experienced GBV. This was similar for female respondents (PR = 3.00; 95% CI: 2.26, 3.98) and male respondents (PR = 3.01, 95% CI: 2.3, 3.95) (PR = 5.49; 95% CI = 4.12-7.30). Results also indicated that both male (PR = 1.28; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.43) and female respondents (PR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.37) who did not perceive themselves at risk of GBV were less likely to know a GBV survivor. Interpretation: The individuals who were unable to access information had characteristics associated with GBV perpetration or victimization. Monitoring the dissemination and quality of information empowers individuals and communities to develop local solutions to GBV prevention and protection. The design of GBV prevention messages and delivery channels needs to take into consideration the risk factors at the different levels of the socio-ecological model (individual, community, institutional, and society). Interventions aimed at increasing access to information on GBV prevention should consider the different socio-demographic as well as context-specific factors. Funding: There was no funding source for this study.

Vulnerability to violence against women or girls during COVID-19 in Uganda.

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, gender-based violence (GBV) was reported to have increased worldwide. We build on existing literature to examine the factors that increased vulnerability to GBV during the COVID-19 pandemic in Uganda. We use data from the Rapid Gender Assessment (RGA) survey that was conducted during COVID-19, which was designed to provide information to guide policymaking and offer appropriate interventions that address the needs of people in Uganda during the pandemic. The results show that the following respondents are more likely to experience increased risk and vulnerability to gender-based violence: those with primary level of education (OR = 1.49; 95% CI = 1.10-2.01), those who received information about GBV (OR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.08-1.57), and those who needed help or medical support as a prevention measure against GBV (OR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.04-1.61). However, respondents who would need financial support to prevent GBV were less likely to experience increased GBV (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.70-0.98). Our results align with evidence from other studies that risk and vulnerability to GBV in Uganda increased since the onset of COVID-19. The findings provide an understanding of the interrelationship between GBV and COVID-19,which can help with designing GBV preventive measures, particularly during pandemics among those most at-risk.

Social norms, attitudes and access to modern contraception for adolescent girls in six districts in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Social norms continue to be entrenched in Uganda. Understanding social norms helps to uncover the underlying drivers that influence attitudes and behavior towards contraceptive access and use. This study therefore seeks to investigate the factors that influence the social norm - access to contraception by adolescent girls - in six districts in Uganda. DATA AND METHODS: Using data from a community cross-sectional survey in six districts (Amudat, Kaberamaido, Kasese, Moroto, Tororo and Pader) in Uganda, a binary logistic regression model was fitted to examine the variation in individual beliefs and socio-economic and demographic factors on 'allowing adolescent girls to access contraception in a community' - we refer to as a social norm. RESULTS: Results demonstrate that a higher proportion of respondents hold social norms that inhibit adolescent girls from accessing contraception in the community. After controlling for all variables, the likelihood for adolescent girls to be allowed access to contraception in the community was higher among respondents living in Kaberamaido (OR = 2.58; 95 %CI = 1.23-5.39), Kasese (OR = 2.62; 95 %CI = 1.25-5.47), Pader (OR = 4.35; 95 %CI = 2.15-8.79) and Tororo (OR = 9.44; 95 %CI = 4.59-19.37), those aged 30-34 years likely (OR = 1.73; 95 %CI = 1.03-2.91). However, the likelihood for respondents living in Moroto to agree that adolescent girls are allowed to access contraception was lower (OR = 0.27; 95 %CI = 0.11-0.68) compared to respondents living in Amudat. Respondents who were not formally employed (OR = 0.63; 95 %CI = 0.43-0.91), and those who agreed that withdrawal prevents pregnancy (OR = 0.45; 95 %CI = 0.35-0.57) were less likely to agree that adolescent girls are allowed to access contraception in the community. Respondents who agreed that a girl who is sexually active can use contraception to prevent unwanted pregnancy (OR = 1.84; 95 %CI = 1.33-2.53), unmarried women or girls should have access to contraception (OR = 2.15; 95 %CI = 1.61-2.88), married women or girls should have access to contraception (OR = 1.55; 95 %CI = 0.99-2.39) and women know where to obtain contraception for prevention against pregnancy (OR = 2.35; 95 %CI = 1.19-4.65) were more likely to agree that adolescent girls are allowed to access contraception. CONCLUSIONS: The findings underscore the need for context specific ASRH programs that take into account the differences in attitudes and social norms that affect access and use of contraception by adolescents.

An examination of physical violence against women and its justification in development settings in Uganda.

This paper uses data from a community cross-sectional survey to examine the factors that are associated with justification of physical violence against women. Results indicate that respondents who were married at the time of the survey were less likely (OR = 0.29; CI = 0.17-0.52) to agree that it is justified for a man to physically assault his partner that their counterparts who were single. The likelihood to justify physical violence was less likely to happen among respondents with primary education (OR = 0.49; CI = 0.39-0.62), secondary education (OR = 0.40; CI = 0.31-0.53) and vocation or tertiary education (OR = 0.28; CI = 0.19-0.41) than among respondents with no education. Protestants were less likely (OR = 0.77; CI = 0.64-0.94) to justify physical violence than the Catholics. Respondents who were not formally employed were more likely (OR = 1.66; CI = 1.32-2.08) to justify physical violence than their counterparts who were in formal employment in the last three months preceding the survey. Respondents who agreed that it is okay for a man to control his partner's movements (OR = 1.27; CI = 1.04-1.55), it is okay for a man to have sex with his wife anytime (OR = 2.28; CI = 1.87-2.78), alcohol is the main reason for violence against women (OR = 1.67; CI = 1.33-2.10), men need sex more than women (OR = 1.57; CI = 1.23-1.99) and women know where to obtain support in case of violence (OR = 1.42; CI = 1.00-2.02) were more likely to justify physical violence than respondents who disagreed. The likelihood to justify physical violence was less among respondents who agreed that: violence is not the only way to deal with disagreements (OR = 0.54; CI = 0.33-0.86), it is possible for men to stop violence (OR = 0.62; CI = 0.47-0.82) and it is acceptable for a woman to ask her partner to use a condom (OR = 0.61; CI = 0.51-0.73) than their counterparts who disagreed. There is need to increase investment in social norms change programmes in order to strengthen contestation of tolerance of physical violence among men and women in Uganda.