Community-based Intervention to Prevent Intimate Partner Violence in Rural Southwest, Nigeria

NCT ID: NCT06119984

Last Updated: 2023-11-07

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 2650 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-01-12
• Study Completion Date: 2022-12-01

Brief Summary

Background:

Intimate partner violence is arguably the most prevalent, persistent and pernicious type of violence against women, all around the world. It also has significant repercussions for women's health, yet, in some parts of the world, considered an acceptable practice within intimate partner relationships. Community-based interventions, on the other hand, offer promises as a strategy that can get community members involved in working to prevent IPV. This study evaluated a community mobilisation intervention to challenge attitudes toward IPV and prevent violence within intimate relationships.

Methods:

This mixed-method randomised community trial was conducted in selected rural communities in Oyo State, Nigeria, between January 2018 and April 2021. It employed a six-month community mobilisation intervention focused on creating awareness and challenging harmful social norms relating to IPV. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions and two cross-sectional surveys were conducted among men and women of reproductive age who were married at baseline and end line to estimate changes in key outcomes. Difference-in-difference regression models were estimated to compare changes in IPV levels in the intervention and control arms.

Conclusion:

This trial should demonstrate the effectiveness of community mobilisation interventions to change attitudes supportive of IPV and prevent women's experience of IPV.

Detailed Description

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is arguably the most pernicious, pervasive, and persistent form of violence against women worldwide. It is an abuse of women's fundamental human rights and a public health concern. Experience of IPV by women has been associated with a mixture of both noticeable and frequently unnoticed outcomes, negatively affecting their health and wellbeing.

The prevalence of IPV is high in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is considered an element of the unwritten rules underpinning intimate relationships. Interventions that challenge these social norms are still evolving; community mobilization interventions, on the other hand, offer some potential in moderating the attitudes that permit or promote IPV. This study evaluated the effect of a community mobilization intervention on attitudes toward social norms that influence IPV in selected rural communities of Oyo State, Nigeria.

Methods: In a randomised community trial conducted in 8 rural communities of Oyo State, Nigeria, a six-month community mobilization intervention that consisted of advocacy to stakeholders, community workshops and small group discussions in 6 selected communities was tested compared with no intervention in the 2 control communities.

To engender community participation and sustainability of the intervention the investigator recruited and trained members of the community as 'Model Couples'. Community leaders, community health workers were also engaged to speak against IPV. Both the 'Model couples' and community leaders addressed topics like gender and power dynamics, IPV and its consequences, law prohibiting all forms of violence against women, social norms that influence IPV, and need to take action for change.

The intervention was tested among women of reproductive age, using a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. The study outcomes were attitudes toward social norms associated with IPV and experience of IPV. For the collection of quantitative data, a modified WHO women's health questionnaire was used, while an interview guide was developed for the collection of the qualitative data.

Conclusion: This trial should show community mobilization intervention as a strategy that can reduce women's experience of IPV and change attitudes toward IPV.

Conditions

Violence; Domestic Violence; Attitude

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: SINGLE

Study Groups

Community mobilization

a six-month community mobilization intervention that consisted of advocacy to stakeholders, community workshops and small group discussions in intervention communities

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Community mobilization

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

The intervention focused on creating awareness, challenging social norms, and promoting actions against violence. To achieve these, the following activities were undertaken: introductory meetings, selection and training of model couples, structured workshops and small group meetings.

No intervention

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

Community mobilization

The intervention focused on creating awareness, challenging social norms, and promoting actions against violence. To achieve these, the following activities were undertaken: introductory meetings, selection and training of model couples, structured workshops and small group meetings.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Men aged 18 to 59 years
• Women aged 18 to 49 years
• Currently married or cohabiting with a partner
• had lived in the community for a minimum of one year.

Exclusion Criteria

• Married/ cohabiting males or females
• does not speak either Yoruba or English

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 59 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Ibadan

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Funmilola OlaOlorun

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Funmilola OlaOlorun

Senior Lecturer

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR_INVESTIGATOR

Locations

Oriire LGA

Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Countries

Nigeria

Other Identifiers

SNIP Project

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id