Addressing sexual violence and HIV risk among married adolescent girls in rural Nyanza, Kenya

Married adolescent girls form a large segment of Kenyan youth, yet they are largely overlooked by researchers and program managers concerned with the lives of adolescents. In settings such as Nyanza Province, Kenya, rates of HIV infection are extremely high, and evidence is increasing in some settings that girls who are married are much more likely to be infected, compared with their unmarried sexually active counterparts. Research indicates that the risk of HIV infection following forced sex is likely higher than following consensual sex. Finding ways to tackle sexual violence and HIV infection simultaneously has therefore become a major public health endeavor. Married adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence; however, there is a lack of data to guide intervention efforts specifically for such girls because they have largely remained invisible in programs. Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Series Brief No. 19 describes a program addressing the problem of sexual violence and the risk of HIV transmission within marriage in Nyanza Province

Access to emergency contraception and safe abortion services for survivors of rape: A review of policies, programmes and country experiences in sub-Saharan Africa

This study examined how pregnancy prevention and management services (specifically, the provision of emergency contraception, pregnancy testing and counseling, and termination or referral for termination of pregnancy services) feature within post-rape care services in sub-Saharan Africa. The study drew on a range of sources via a desk review, as well as on information provided through key informant interviews. The existence of numerous national guidelines in the region demonstrates countries’ desire to respond to this public health and legal challenge. However, if left in their current state, the gaps and inconsistencies observed across most national guidelines contribute to a violation of survivors’ rights and of good medical practice as outlined in international protocols. The report concludes that countries in the sub-Saharan Africa region would benefit from intensive support to update and consolidate guidance on these critical issues, and outlines a number of recommendations arising from the findings

Replication of the Community Mobilization for Postabortion Care (COMMPAC) model in Naivasha District, Rift Valley Province, Kenya: An evaluation report

The Population Council’s RESPOND project worked with districts and communities in Kenya to: strengthen service delivery points to provide postabortion care (PAC) services; conduct community mobilization to improve involvement in and knowledge of the prevention and treatment of postabortion complications; build community capacity to address needs related to PAC; and encourage involvement in community action of those most marginalized and most affected by postabortion complications. The program succeeded at increasing knowledge of critical danger signs; enabling providers to effectively offer PAC services; and raising awareness of PAC, among other goals. The intervention was less successful in increasing FP knowledge, current use, and partner approval; knowledge of dispensaries and health centers as service delivery points; partner support for obtaining PAC services; and participation in community discussions about PAC. The report offers recommendations to address these findings

“The Place of Cool Waters”: Women and Water in the Slums of Nairobi, Kenya

n this paper, we explore how women and young girls in two informal settlements in Nairobi, Kenya, are affected by water in its various forms. We analyze sixteen focus group discussions with women, girls in school, and girls out of school, focusing on their unique water experiences and concerns. Drawing on the strengths of qualitative data, we thickly describe how women navigate the water challenges prevalent in the urban slum context

Routine screening for intimate partner violence: A guide for trainers

This the first regional document devoted to building the capacity of providers to respond to intimate partner violence (IPV). The training guide is a follow-on initiative to the 6th Best Practices Forum in Health of the East, Central and Southern Africa (ECSA) Health Community, held in August 2012. This Forum brought to the fore research findings from the region centering on the acceptability and feasibility of IPV screening, and culminated in the passage of a resolution by Health Ministers that prescribes the integration of gender-based violence screening into healthcare settings in the ECSA region. This training guide responds to this resolution by providing Member States with a starting point for implementing the proposed integration of gender-based violence screening. The toolkit will serve as a valuable resource for a range of service providers who work to prevent and respond to gender-based violence

Is ethical review a barrier to research on violence against women and violence against children in low and middle income countries?

Violence against women (VAW) and violence against children (VAC) are sensitive topics. Undertaking research in these areas poses some unique methodological and ethical challenges, including issues of safety; confidentiality; and researcher skill and training. The physical safety and psychological well-being of research participants and the research team alike can be put at risk if adequate precautions are not taken. Furthermore, the quality of data may be impacted if researchers do not take adequate measures to address the range of ethical and safety challenges posed by such research. However, accessing appropriate ethical review processes can be challenging, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This blog outlines the inequities and barriers that researchers in LMICs face in accessing and benefiting from ethical review processes. We draw on our experiences as researchers and research facilitators in the fields of VAW and VAC in LMIC contexts and make recommendations for improved research supports and infrastructure