Predictors and facilitators of gender-based violence in sub-Saharan Africa: a rapid review

Abstract

# Background An understanding of factors associated with gender-based violence is essential for developing evidence-based interventions that are necessary for the prevention of violence against women. The objective of this study was to summarize the predictors of gender-based violence. # Methods A PubMed search was carried out in January 2019 and identified primary quantitative research studies that measured predictors of any form of gender-based violence in sub-Saharan Africa and were published in the English language between January 2000 and December 2018. The categories of keywords used for the search were facilitators, barriers, predictors, gender-based violence, Africa. # Results A total of 21 studies were reviewed. The prevalence of gender-based violence in this review ranges from 11.6% to 75.6%. The results show that predictors include factors such as socio-demographic factors, individual factors, family factors, spouse's/partner's habit, and experience in the past. Ten studies reported socio-economic predictors of gender-based violence while eight of the studies cited predictors specific to the individual. Eight of the studies reported predictors due to partner/spouse's habits, and only two studies reported family-related predictors. Seven studies reported predictors due to previous experience. Lower educational status, being married, being involved in sex work, having experienced abuse in the past, substance abuse by partner, having a gender-biased attitude, younger age, lower socioeconomic status, urban residence, having a promiscuous partner, and poor social support were found to be predictors of gender-based violence. Perpetrator factors identified include sexual history, previous experience of abuse, educational status, substance use, gender-biased attitude, and having experienced abuse of the mother. # Conclusions The study concludes that an inter-sectoral approach is necessary to address the problem of gender-based violence. Community engagement including stakeholder engagement is also a vital instrument in addressing gender-based violence.