Factors associated with attendance to a participatory gender training programme – A secondary analysis of data from the MAISHA study

Abstract

Participatory gender training is often included in programmes aimed at preventing intimate partner violence (IPV) in low- and middle-income countries. Higher attendance is associated with greater benefit. Using data from two trials, conducted in Tanzania from 2014 to 2019 (MAISHA study), we retrospectively examined associations between individual and group-level factors and attendance at a gender training intervention, among women in established microfinance groups (CRT01, n = 528), and in newly-formed neighbourhood groups (CRT02, n = 629). High attendance was defined as participation in 7 or more of 10 sessions. More women were high attenders in CRT02 (81.74 %) than CRT01 (66.67 %). In both trials, older age was positively associated with attendance (CRT01: adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.43, 95 %CI: 1.42–4.15, p = 0.001 and CRT02: aOR: 2.00, 95 %CI: 1.10–3.61, p = 0.023). In CRT01 only, past IPV victimization was positively associated with attendance (aOR: 1.71, 95 %CI: 1.07–2.73, p = 0.024), while secondary education and larger group size were negatively associated with attendance (aOR: 0.59, 95 %CI: 0.36–0.97, p = 0.038 and aOR: 0.38, 95 %CI: 0.19–0.75, p = 0.006 respectively). There was limited evidence of associations between factors examined and attendance in CRT02. Programme implementers should consider potential barriers to women’s engagement and implement strategies to support participation, particularly for younger women, given their increased risk of IPV.