Accelerating the prevention of HIV and violence in adolescent girls and young women in Zimbabwe through multi-sectoral programming: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 violence against children survey

In Zimbabwe, adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) encounter significant challenges, including HIV risk and gender-based violence. This study analyses data from 7,211 AGYW aged 13–24 from the 2017 Zimbabwe Violence Against Children Survey. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, it examin...

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Main Authors: Martina Mchenga, Brendan Maughan-Brown, Rachel Yates, Lucas Hertzog, Boladé Hamed Banougnin, Silinganisiwe Dzumbunu, Madison T. Little, Lucie Cluver, Elona Toska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Global Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2537698
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author Martina Mchenga
Brendan Maughan-Brown
Rachel Yates
Lucas Hertzog
Boladé Hamed Banougnin
Silinganisiwe Dzumbunu
Madison T. Little
Lucie Cluver
Elona Toska
author_facet Martina Mchenga
Brendan Maughan-Brown
Rachel Yates
Lucas Hertzog
Boladé Hamed Banougnin
Silinganisiwe Dzumbunu
Madison T. Little
Lucie Cluver
Elona Toska
author_sort Martina Mchenga
collection DOAJ
description In Zimbabwe, adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) encounter significant challenges, including HIV risk and gender-based violence. This study analyses data from 7,211 AGYW aged 13–24 from the 2017 Zimbabwe Violence Against Children Survey. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, it examines the associations between three protective factors: positive parenting, food security, and equitable-gender attitudes and 12 outcomes. Westfall-Young stepdown procedure was used to adjust for multiple hypothesis testing. Percentage predicted probabilities of each outcome occurring in several scenarios were computed: exposure to each protective factor alone or in combination, with other variables kept constant. The findings reveal that equitable-gender attitudes inversely correlate with ten adverse outcomes, including inconsistent condom use (aOR: 0.47) and adolescent pregnancy (aOR: 0.65). Positive parenting also reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse (aOR: 0.63) and physical intimate partner violence (IPV) (aOR: 0.56). Food security is linked to lower odds of physical IPV (aOR: 0.52) and mental distress (aOR: 0.58). The combination of these protective factors demonstrates additive effects across various outcomes. These results suggest that integrating HIV-centered interventions with structural, societal, and relational strategies such as improving food security and promoting equitable gender attitudes could enhance the well-being of AGYW in Zimbabwe.
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spelling doaj-art-be41ff706798456bac6bbaf89c84bba72025-08-20T03:18:01ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Public Health1744-16921744-17062025-12-0120110.1080/17441692.2025.2537698Accelerating the prevention of HIV and violence in adolescent girls and young women in Zimbabwe through multi-sectoral programming: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 violence against children surveyMartina Mchenga0Brendan Maughan-Brown1Rachel Yates2Lucas Hertzog3Boladé Hamed Banougnin4Silinganisiwe Dzumbunu5Madison T. Little6Lucie Cluver7Elona Toska8Centre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaSouthern Africa Labour and Development Research Unit (SALDRU), Cape Town, South AfricaDepartment of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKCentre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaCentre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaCentre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaDepartment of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKDepartment of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, Oxford, UKCentre for Social Science Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, Western Cape, South AfricaIn Zimbabwe, adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) encounter significant challenges, including HIV risk and gender-based violence. This study analyses data from 7,211 AGYW aged 13–24 from the 2017 Zimbabwe Violence Against Children Survey. Using a multivariable logistic regression model, it examines the associations between three protective factors: positive parenting, food security, and equitable-gender attitudes and 12 outcomes. Westfall-Young stepdown procedure was used to adjust for multiple hypothesis testing. Percentage predicted probabilities of each outcome occurring in several scenarios were computed: exposure to each protective factor alone or in combination, with other variables kept constant. The findings reveal that equitable-gender attitudes inversely correlate with ten adverse outcomes, including inconsistent condom use (aOR: 0.47) and adolescent pregnancy (aOR: 0.65). Positive parenting also reduce the likelihood of sexual abuse (aOR: 0.63) and physical intimate partner violence (IPV) (aOR: 0.56). Food security is linked to lower odds of physical IPV (aOR: 0.52) and mental distress (aOR: 0.58). The combination of these protective factors demonstrates additive effects across various outcomes. These results suggest that integrating HIV-centered interventions with structural, societal, and relational strategies such as improving food security and promoting equitable gender attitudes could enhance the well-being of AGYW in Zimbabwe.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2537698HIV/AIDSviolenceadolescent girls and young womenacceleratorsZimbabwe
spellingShingle Martina Mchenga
Brendan Maughan-Brown
Rachel Yates
Lucas Hertzog
Boladé Hamed Banougnin
Silinganisiwe Dzumbunu
Madison T. Little
Lucie Cluver
Elona Toska
Accelerating the prevention of HIV and violence in adolescent girls and young women in Zimbabwe through multi-sectoral programming: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 violence against children survey
Global Public Health
HIV/AIDS
violence
adolescent girls and young women
accelerators
Zimbabwe
title Accelerating the prevention of HIV and violence in adolescent girls and young women in Zimbabwe through multi-sectoral programming: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 violence against children survey
title_full Accelerating the prevention of HIV and violence in adolescent girls and young women in Zimbabwe through multi-sectoral programming: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 violence against children survey
title_fullStr Accelerating the prevention of HIV and violence in adolescent girls and young women in Zimbabwe through multi-sectoral programming: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 violence against children survey
title_full_unstemmed Accelerating the prevention of HIV and violence in adolescent girls and young women in Zimbabwe through multi-sectoral programming: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 violence against children survey
title_short Accelerating the prevention of HIV and violence in adolescent girls and young women in Zimbabwe through multi-sectoral programming: Cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 violence against children survey
title_sort accelerating the prevention of hiv and violence in adolescent girls and young women in zimbabwe through multi sectoral programming cross sectional analysis of the 2017 violence against children survey
topic HIV/AIDS
violence
adolescent girls and young women
accelerators
Zimbabwe
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17441692.2025.2537698
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