Gender-based violence among female youths in educational institutions of Sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Background Gender-based violence is a public health issue. The prevalence of gender-based violence is high in Sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, this study aims to produce an overall summary estimate on the prevalence of gender-based violence according to different types and its risk factors among female youths in educational institutions of Sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Studies published in English between 2000 and 2017 were identified by searching electronic databases such as MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, PsychINFO, and other relevant data bases. Three reviewers independently extracted the data and assessed the quality of studies using the Loney guidelines. The pooled prevalence of gender-based violence and type of GBV was computed using STATA software version 14, and between studies heterogeneity was tested using Cochran’s Q test and I 2 statistics. Meta-regression analyses were done to identify factors associated with GBV estimates. Results A total of 1377 articles were produced from different databases, and a final 24 articles were included in the review. The overall prevalence of gender-based violence ranged from 42.3% in Nigeria to 67.7% in Ethiopia. The lifetime prevalence of sexual violence ranged from 4.3 to 76.4%, physical violence ranged from 7.4 to 66.1%, and emotional violence prevalence ranged from 26.1 to 50.8%. The overall pooled prevalence of lifetime GBV ( n = 7 studies) was 52.83% [95% CI 39.54–65.90%, I 2 = 99.1, P < 0.00]. The pooled estimate of sexual violence ( n = 23), 26.22% [95% CI 19.48–33.57%, I 2 = 99.39, P < 0.00], physical violence ( n = 9), 18.86% [95% CI 10.96–28.3%, I 2 = 98.98, P < 0.00], and emotional violence ( n = 5), 27.06% [95% CI19.57–35.28%], I 2 = 97.1, P < 0.00]. The review showed that gender-based violence was significantly associated with place of residence, witnessing parental violence, substance abuse, marital status, and educational status. Conclusions The overall prevalence of overall gender-based violence, sexual, physical, and emotional violence was high in Sub-Saharan Africa. The lowest prevalence of GBV was observed in Nigeria, and it was highest in Ethiopia. However, the results should be interpreted with caution because of high between studies heterogeneity. Evidence from the review part revealed GBV was significantly associated with place of residence, witnessing parental violence, substance abuse, marital status, and educational status. The Sub-Saharan African countries should develop a comprehensive educational instit...

Gender Based Violence against Women in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cross-Sectional Studies

“…Overall, a high pooled prevalence of IPV among women in SSA was found as compared to the global estimate which was conducted in 56 countries in 2013 [4] and SSA countries [5,21,102,103]. The findings of this review are comparable or slightly higher to studies conducted in 14 SSA countries [27,102]. The higher prevalence of IPV in our study could provide a better overview compared to previous studies where the number of countries involved were relatively small.…”

“…In this review, the pooled prevalence of all types of GBV, physical, sexual and emotional violence were consistently higher in SSA countries as compared to many other regions in the world [25,102,103]. Emotional violence was the most prevalent reported type of violence.…”

“…The higher prevalence of IPV in our study could provide a better overview compared to previous studies where the number of countries involved were relatively small. Most importantly, this high prevalence might be due to the prevalence of gender inequality in regions for reasons including prerogative perceptions to males, tolerant attitudes in the community to IPV, poor education of women, female disempowerment and limited law enforcement in SSA [3,4,21,102,104,105].…”

Intimate partner violence against women in Pakistan: a review of qualitative research

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Physical Violence Against Street Children and Its Associated Factors Among Street Children in Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia :- A Community Based Cross-Sectional

“…A systematic review and Meta-Analysis in Gender-based violence among female youths in Sub-Saharan Africa revealed that the overall prevalence of gender-based violence ranged from 42.3% in Nigeria to 67.7% in Ethiopia. The lifetime prevalence of sexual violence ranged from 4.3 to 76.4% and physical violence ranged from 7.4 to 66.1% [17]. Information related to magnitude of all forms of violence specific to street children is still vacant globally that"s why the world fail to develop policies and intervene for visible problems of the street world , so does Ethiopia.…”