Sexual and gender-related violence against girls in sub-Saharan Africa: a need for effective interventions
High rates of sexual and gender-related violence (SGRV) against girls occur in sub-Saharan Africa. SGRV generates fear, anxiety, and depression and leads to multiple adverse outcomes; its pervasive nature constitutes a significant public health crisis; the need for effective interventions...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Academia.edu Journals
2024-10-01
|
| Series: | Academia Mental Health & Well-Being |
| Online Access: | https://www.academia.edu/124545379/Sexual_and_gender_related_violence_against_girls_in_sub_Saharan_Africa_a_need_for_effective_interventions |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849718555259437056 |
|---|---|
| author | Andrew J. Macnab Innocent Besigye Brenda Tusubira |
| author_facet | Andrew J. Macnab Innocent Besigye Brenda Tusubira |
| author_sort | Andrew J. Macnab |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
High rates of sexual and gender-related violence (SGRV) against girls occur in sub-Saharan Africa. SGRV generates fear, anxiety, and depression and leads to multiple adverse outcomes; its pervasive nature constitutes a significant public health crisis; the need for effective interventions is evident as currently applied programs have known limitations, and 1 in 3 women still suffer gender-based violence in their lifetime. This report reviews the challenge and mental health impact of SGRV in sub-Saharan Africa, summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of currently applied interventions, and describes a novel social empowerment intervention piloted in Uganda which achieved nationwide reach. Girls were engaged in high schools to identify the SGRV issues they saw as priorities. A music video was recorded by celebrity artists with scenarios to illustrate these issues and promote positive interventions; this used the framework for Education-Entertainment media, a validated form of health promotion. Over 12 months, the video was viewed 36,651 times on YouTube and generated >200,000 social media posts; streaming platforms saw 113,757 individuals downloaded the song; >310,000 people at public concerts heard the song performed; and eight national broadcasters played the video or song at least 30 times reaching a combined audience of >9,500,000. We suggest these data and the inherent merit of a preventive SGRV intervention warrant further consideration of this music video model; other countries can produce region-specific, population-focused versions to meet the urgent need for targeted interventions to raise societal awareness and enhance mental health support for those living in fear of sexual violence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-88b730fa2cf84097b51577adbf6a1d78 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2997-9196 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | Academia.edu Journals |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Academia Mental Health & Well-Being |
| spelling | doaj-art-88b730fa2cf84097b51577adbf6a1d782025-08-20T03:12:20ZengAcademia.edu JournalsAcademia Mental Health & Well-Being2997-91962024-10-011310.20935/MHealthWellB7365Sexual and gender-related violence against girls in sub-Saharan Africa: a need for effective interventionsAndrew J. Macnab0Innocent Besigye1Brenda Tusubira2Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6H 3V4, Canada.Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala 7072, Uganda.Department of Family Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala 7072, Uganda. High rates of sexual and gender-related violence (SGRV) against girls occur in sub-Saharan Africa. SGRV generates fear, anxiety, and depression and leads to multiple adverse outcomes; its pervasive nature constitutes a significant public health crisis; the need for effective interventions is evident as currently applied programs have known limitations, and 1 in 3 women still suffer gender-based violence in their lifetime. This report reviews the challenge and mental health impact of SGRV in sub-Saharan Africa, summarizes the strengths and weaknesses of currently applied interventions, and describes a novel social empowerment intervention piloted in Uganda which achieved nationwide reach. Girls were engaged in high schools to identify the SGRV issues they saw as priorities. A music video was recorded by celebrity artists with scenarios to illustrate these issues and promote positive interventions; this used the framework for Education-Entertainment media, a validated form of health promotion. Over 12 months, the video was viewed 36,651 times on YouTube and generated >200,000 social media posts; streaming platforms saw 113,757 individuals downloaded the song; >310,000 people at public concerts heard the song performed; and eight national broadcasters played the video or song at least 30 times reaching a combined audience of >9,500,000. We suggest these data and the inherent merit of a preventive SGRV intervention warrant further consideration of this music video model; other countries can produce region-specific, population-focused versions to meet the urgent need for targeted interventions to raise societal awareness and enhance mental health support for those living in fear of sexual violence.https://www.academia.edu/124545379/Sexual_and_gender_related_violence_against_girls_in_sub_Saharan_Africa_a_need_for_effective_interventions |
| spellingShingle | Andrew J. Macnab Innocent Besigye Brenda Tusubira Sexual and gender-related violence against girls in sub-Saharan Africa: a need for effective interventions Academia Mental Health & Well-Being |
| title | Sexual and gender-related violence against girls in sub-Saharan Africa: a need for effective interventions |
| title_full | Sexual and gender-related violence against girls in sub-Saharan Africa: a need for effective interventions |
| title_fullStr | Sexual and gender-related violence against girls in sub-Saharan Africa: a need for effective interventions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual and gender-related violence against girls in sub-Saharan Africa: a need for effective interventions |
| title_short | Sexual and gender-related violence against girls in sub-Saharan Africa: a need for effective interventions |
| title_sort | sexual and gender related violence against girls in sub saharan africa a need for effective interventions |
| url | https://www.academia.edu/124545379/Sexual_and_gender_related_violence_against_girls_in_sub_Saharan_Africa_a_need_for_effective_interventions |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT andrewjmacnab sexualandgenderrelatedviolenceagainstgirlsinsubsaharanafricaaneedforeffectiveinterventions AT innocentbesigye sexualandgenderrelatedviolenceagainstgirlsinsubsaharanafricaaneedforeffectiveinterventions AT brendatusubira sexualandgenderrelatedviolenceagainstgirlsinsubsaharanafricaaneedforeffectiveinterventions |