Prevalence and Contributing Factors of Gender-based Violence in SAARC Territories from 2010 to 2020: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

  • Ganesh Dangal Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS), Kathmandu-44600, Nepal,
  • Niki Shrestha Department of Community Medicine, Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital, Chitwan, Nepal
  • Gayatri Khanal Department of Community Medicine, Chitwan Medical College Teaching Hospital, Chitwan, Nepal,
  • Subarna Giri Department of Internal Medicine, Trivuwan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal,
  • Anup Ghimire Department of Internal Medicine, Trivuwan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Shiva Aryal Department of Internal Medicine, Trivuwan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Barun Babu Aryal Department of Emergency Medicine, Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Lalitpur, Nepal
  • Anurag Adhikari Department of Emergency Medicine, Nepal National Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Ayusha Paudel Department of Emergency Medicine, Alka Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
  • Pravash Budhathoki Department of Internal Medicine, Bronxcare Health System, Bronx, NY, USA
  • Dhan Bahadur Shrestha Department of Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA

Abstract

Background: Gender-based violence is a key global concern due to the high prevalence and increased socio-economic burden for survivors. However, estimation of the prevalence of gender-based violence is difficult due to differences in study design and underreporting of abuse, especially in developing nations. Therefore, we conducted this study to estimate the prevalence of Gender-based violence among women living in the SAARC region.
Methods: The review protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42020219577). Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed throughout the review. A thorough database search was conducted to identify studies done in the SAARC region. Title and abstract screening were done in Covidence, followed by a full-text review. Data were extracted and pooled for analysis using the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Subgroup analysis was done where possible.
Results: A total of 76 studies were included in the systematic review and metaanalysis. The community prevalence of domestic violence (DV) was 43.8% (95% CI, 35.1% - 52.9%), GBV prevalence was 34.9% (95% CI, 30.2% - 39.9%) and IPV prevalence was 39.8% (95% CI, 30.7% - 49.6%). GBV prevalence was highest in illiterate women [54.2% (95% CI, 46.8% - 61.5%)] and lowest among women with higher than secondary level education [23.1% (95% CI, 16.2% - 32.0%)]. The prevalence of GBV among women in pregnancy or postpartum period was 32.3% (95% CI, 25.1% - 40.4%, I2: 98.64), while among female sexual workers, the prevalence of Gender-based violence was 42.1% (95% CI, 28.1% - 57.5%, I2: 99.25).
Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of Gender-based violence in the SAARC region. Higher socioeconomic status and educational status are protective factors for Gender-based violence. However, more studies using validated tools are needed to understand the true extent of the problem.
Keywords: Domestic violence; gender-based violence; pregnancy; women.

Published
2022-06-02
How to Cite
Dangal, G., Shrestha, N., Khanal, G., Giri, S., Ghimire , A., Aryal, S., Aryal, B. B., Adhikari, A., Paudel, A., Budhathoki, P., & Shrestha, D. B. (2022). Prevalence and Contributing Factors of Gender-based Violence in SAARC Territories from 2010 to 2020: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Journal of Nepal Health Research Council, 20(01), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.33314/jnhrc.v20i01.4011