Intimate Partner Violence Prevention in Africa: What Has Been Done and What Still Needs to be Done

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is defined as any violent or ill intended behavior that could cause harm to the other person within the confines of an intimate relationship. IPV has very serious consequences for the individual, the community, and the larger society. Much of what is known about IPV comes from studies conducted in the U.S. or other Western countries. However, women who live in developing countries have an increased risk of experiencing IPV because of poor living conditions and different social norms. Yet, little is known about specific risk factors and intervention approaches for IPV conducted in developing countries. Consequently, this thesis will focus on IPV risk factor research and interventions that have taken place in countries in Africa. To date there has not been a systematic review of this work. The project will help identify risk factors for IPV in an African context, and to determine what intervention approaches appear successful and which are not