Preventing gender-based violence victimization in adolescent girls in lower-income countries

This systematic review of reviews synthesises evidence on the impact of interventions to prevent violence against adolescent girls and young women 10–24 years (VAWG) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Theories of women's empowerment and the social ecology of multifaceted violence frame the review. Child abuse, female genital mutilation/cutting (FGMC), child marriage, intimate partner violence (IPV), and sexual violence were focal outcomes.

Key messages:

• Preventing violence against girls and young women is understudied in poor countries.

Interventions often target discrete forms of violence, but poly-victimisation is common.

• Multilevel investments in girls and communities may reduce poly-victimisation.
• Prevention efforts in married, urban, out-of-school, and displaced girls are needed.

Please note this systematic review is published in the journal Social Science & Medicine Volume 192, November 2017, Pages 1-13. A subscription is required to read the full journal article.

Suggested citation

Yount, K. M., Krause, K. H. and Miedema, S. S. (2017) ‘Preventing gender-based violence victimization in adolescent girls in lower-income countries: systematic review of reviews’, Social Science & Medicine, 192, pp. 1–13. (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.08.038)