Transfers, Behavior Change Communication, and Intimate Partner Violence: Postprogram Evidence from Rural Bangladesh

Shalini Roy,Akhter Ahmed,John Hoddinott,Melissa Hidrobo

doi:10.1162/rest_a_00791

Abstract

Abstract Transfer programs have been shown to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV), but little evidence exists on how activities linked to transfers affect IPV or what happens when programs end. We assess postprogram impacts on IPV of randomly assigning women in Bangladesh to receive cash or food, with or without nutrition behavior change communication (BCC). Six to ten months postprogram, IPV did not differ between women receiving transfers and a control group; however, women receiving transfers with BCC experienced 26% less physical violence. Evidence on mechanisms suggests sustained effects of BCC on women's “threat points,” men's social costs of violence, and household well-being.

Highlights

INTIMATE partner violence (IPV) is a major global public health problem with economic costs ranging from 1% to 4% of GDP (García-Moreno et al, 2015; Ribero & Sánchez, 2005)
We find that six to ten months after the program, women who had received only transfers experienced no significant difference in any dimension of IPV relative to the control group; women who had received transfers with behavior change communication (BCC) experienced significantly less physical violence than either the transfer-only group or the control group
The difference in coefficients between transfers and transfers+BCC is significant for physical violence, suggesting that linking the transfers to BCC is required for postprogram impacts

Summary

Introduction

INTIMATE partner violence (IPV) is a major global public health problem with economic costs ranging from 1% to 4% of GDP (García-Moreno et al, 2015; Ribero & Sánchez, 2005). IPV has multiple malign consequences for women’s physical and mental health (Ellsberg et al, 2008; Kapiga et al, 2017) and is the leading cause of women’s death by homicide (Devries et al, 2013). Using data from 141 studies from 81 countries, Devries et al (2013) estimate that 30% of all adult women have experienced physical or sexual IPV. Revision accepted for publication July 9, 2018.

Methods

Results

Conclusion