Study of the Preliminary Effect of TEVAW: a Program to Address Intimate Partner Violence in Northern Tanzania

Summary

Women in Tanzania suffer alarming rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) that has detrimental effects on mental and physical health including an increased risk of HIV infection. The investigators will use a cluster randomized control study design to conduct a preliminary evaluation study of TEVAW, an intervention that aims to improve gender equitable attitudes and to decrease tolerance of IPV among men and women in rural Tanzania. Nine villages will be randomly assigned into one of three study arms, each comprised of 150 partnered women and their co-resident male partners. Women in the comparison arm are currently exposed to World Education's savings and lending group intervention (known as LIMCA), in which they receive training on business skills, literacy, child nutrition and health, child protection, intimate partner violence (IPV) and HIV prevention. Women in Intervention Arm 1 will be exposed to LIMCA, while their male partners will participate in male peer group workshops that explore gender norms, IPV and HIV prevention issues. In Intervention Arm 2, men and women will receive the same treatment as Intervention Arm 1 and participate in community dialogues with community leaders to explore similar topics as the male peer groups. Our hypothesis is that study participants in Arm 2 will report improved gender equitable attitudes and lower intolerance of intimate partner violence than participants in Arm 1 and participants in the control group. Data will be collected at baseline and endline using a structured questionnaire with questions from three validated instruments that measure gender equitable attitudes and attitudes about IPV.

Conditions

• Intimate Partner Violence

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Male Peer Groups

In Intervention Arm 1, male partners participate in male peer group workshops on gender norms, IPV and HIV prevention. Men's peer groups address gender inequality and transformation of gender power relations, positive masculinities and accountability of men in the perpetration of violence against women. This intervention aims to improve knowledge and attitudes among men about the harms of IPV on women, men and children; the confidence to internalize positive masculine ideals and to challenge gender stereotypes; and the ability to formulate positive outcome expectations regarding IPV and healthy relationships with their spouses and communities. Male peer group workshops will be conducted as a series of four workshops for a total of 24 hours spread out over a 5-month period.

BEHAVIORAL

Male Peer Groups and Community Dialogues

Men participate in male peer group workshops as in Intervention Arm 1. In addition, village level community leaders engage in community mobilization/sensitization activities that include women members of savings groups and their male partners who participate male peer groups. Community dialogues focus on gender norms, IPV and HIV prevention. First, a one-day workshop for community leaders on topics similar to those raised in male peer group sessions. Second, trained community leaders facilitate community dialogues on IPV, HIV prevention, and gender norms with savings groups members and their male partners who participate in male peer groups. Each workshop will be a day-long event.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• World Education, Inc.

  collaborator INDUSTRY

• Boston University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Lisa Messersmith, PhD, MPH · Boston University Center for Global Health and Development

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

PREVENTION

Masking

NONE

Model

SINGLE_GROUP

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2015-05-31

Primary Completion

2016-06-30

Completion

2017-01-31