Pathways to transactional sex among peri-urban South African women: the role of relationship control, food insecurity and alcohol misuse.

Transactional sex increases sub-Saharan African women's risk of HIV acquisition. We quantitatively explored the pathways contributing towards women's future engagement in transactional sex with casual partners and khwapheni (secret concurrent sex partners). We conducted secondary data analysis from a cluster randomised controlled trial in urban informal settlements in eThekwini Municipality.

Depression and post-traumatic stress symptoms two years post-rape and the role of early counselling: Rape Impact Cohort Evaluation (RICE) study.

Survivors of sexual violence are at higher risk of adverse mental health outcomes compared to those exposed to other interpersonal traumas. To examine the trajectory of both post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression as well as the role of early counselling over 24 months among rape survivors. The South African Rape Impact Cohort Evaluation (RICE) study enrolled women aged 16-40 years attending post-rape care services within 20 days of a rape incident ( = 734), and a comparison group ( = 786) was recruited from primary health care.

Pooled analysis of the association between mental health and violence against women: evidence from five settings in the Global South.

Objectives: To describe associations between men's poor mental health (depressive and post-traumatic stress symptomatology) and their perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) and non-partner sexual violence (NPSV), and women's mental health and their experiences of IPV and NPSV in five settings in the Global South.

Design: A pooled analysis of data from baseline interviews with men and women participating in five violence against women and girls prevention intervention evaluations.

Setting: Three sub-Saharan African countries (South Africa, Ghana and Rwanda), and one Middle Eastern country, the occupied Palestinian territories.

Pooled analysis of the association between food insecurity and violence against women: Evidence from low- and middle-income settings.

Background: Intimate partner violence impacts relationships across the socioeconomic spectrum, nonetheless its prevalence is reported to be highest in areas that are most socio-economically deprived. Poverty has direct and indirect impacts on intimate partner violence (IPV) risk, however, one of the postulated pathways is through food insecurity. The aim of this paper is to describe the association between food insecurity (household hunger) and women's experiences, and men's perpetration, of intimate partner violence and non-partner sexual violence in data from Africa and Asia.

Assessing risk factors and health impacts across different forms of exchange sex among young women in informal settlements in South Africa: A cross-sectional study.

For women in South Africa, engaging in exchange sex, including transactional sex (TS), or sex work (SW), is associated with several shared poor health outcomes; yet the practices themselves differ in meaningful ways. SW is a form of commodity exchange, while TS is grounded in gendered relationship expectations of male provision and aspects of emotional intimacy. Additionally, exchange sex types could be imagined on a "continuum of instrumentality" from relationships that do not include material support; to those characterized, but not driven by support; to those primarily motivated by material support.

HIV incidence estimation among female sex workers in South Africa: a multiple methods analysis of cross-sectional survey data.

Background: Although numerous studies have investigated HIV risk factors and shown high HIV prevalence among female sex workers in South Africa, no national HIV incidence estimate exists for this potentially important group for HIV transmission. We aimed to estimate HIV incidence among female sex workers in South Africa who could be accessed through sex worker programmes, and to refine and describe the methods that enabled analysis.

Methods: This study was embedded in a cross-sectional national survey of female sex workers who were linked to sex worker programmes.

A Prospective Analysis of the Interrelationship between Physical Intimate Partner Violence and Alcohol Use: A Post-Hoc Analysis of Young Women Involved in the Stepping Stones and Creating Futures Trial in South Africa.

Prospective studies assessing women's experience of intimate partner violence (IPV) and alcohol use have shown mixed results and all are from high-income countries. Using longitudinal data from young women in South Africa we assess whether changes in physical IPV impact alcohol use, and whether changes in alcohol use impact physical IPV experience. Post-hoc analysis of women aged 18-30 living in informal settlements in eThekwini Municipality, South Africa, involved in the Stepping Stones and Creating Futures trial, between September 2015 and October 2019, with data collected at baseline ( = 677) and endline at 24 months ( = 545, 80.

Intersections between disability, masculinities, and violence: experiences and insights from men with physical disabilities from three African countries.

Background: Gender-transformative work in the Global South often focuses on transforming 'toxic masculinities' to prevent intimate partner violence (IPV), but there has been little research on whether and how constructions of masculinities by men with disabilities shape their experiences and perpetration of violence.

Methods: We used repeated in-depth interviews and content analysis to understand whether and how physical disability intersects with the construction of masculinities and experience/perpetration of violence among 15 adult men with physical disabilities participating in interventions to prevent IPV in Ghana, Rwanda, and South Africa.

Results: Societal expectations and participants' aspirations around masculinity impacted their vulnerability to violence mainly by men without disabilities.

Sex work and young women: a cross sectional study to understand the overlap of age and sex work as a central tenet to epidemic control in South Africa.

Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) engaging in sex-for-money transactions are at risk of HIV infection. A better understanding of the demographic, socio-economic factors and risks of HIV acquisition is required to guide appropriate public health interventions targeting young sex workers in South Africa. A cross-sectional survey of Female Sex Workers (FSWs), using a chain referral sampling method, was conducted across 12 sites in South Africa in 2019.

Prevention of violence against women and girls: A cost-effectiveness study across 6 low- and middle-income countries.

Background: Violence against women and girls (VAWG) is a human rights violation with social, economic, and health consequences for survivors, perpetrators, and society. Robust evidence on economic, social, and health impact, plus the cost of delivery of VAWG prevention, is critical to making the case for investment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where health sector resources are highly constrained. We report on the costs and health impact of VAWG prevention in 6 countries.

Sexual IPV and non-partner rape of female sex workers: Findings of a cross-sectional community-centric national study in South Africa.

Background: Globally female sex workers (FSWs) are vulnerable to violence from intimate partners, police and clients due to stigma and criminalisation. In this paper we describe South African FSWs' exposure to violence and factors associated with having been raped in the past year.

Methods: We conducted a multi-stage, community-centric, cross-sectional survey of 3005 FSWs linked to sex worker programmes in 12 sites across all nine provinces that had a SW programme.

Community-led cross-sectional study of social and employment circumstances, HIV and associated factors amongst female sex workers in South Africa: study protocol.

Background: In South Africa, female sex workers (FSWs) are perceived to play a pivotal role in the country's HIV epidemic. Understanding their health status and risk factors for adverse health outcomes is foundational for developing evidence-based health care for this population.

Objective: Describe the methodology used to successfully implement a community-led study of social and employment circumstances, HIV and associated factors amongst FSWs in South Africa.

Pooled analysis of the association between alcohol use and violence against women: evidence from four violence prevention studies in Africa.

Objectives: To test associations between men's past year alcohol use and patterns of drinking, and their perpetration of intimate partner violence (IPV) and non-partner sexual violence (NPSV). To test the associations between women's reports of partner alcohol use and their experience of IPV, in three countries in Africa.

Design: Pooled analysis of cross-sectional baseline data from men and women participating in four IPV prevention studies across Africa and Asia.

Pathways to and factors associated with rape stigma experienced by rape survivors in South Africa: Analysis of baseline data from a rape cohort.

Rape stigma, both external and self-stigmatization (self-blame), is associated with adverse health outcomes. Understanding its origins and resilience factors is critical for reducing and preventing it. We describe the prevalence of rape stigma, the characteristics of women experiencing it and the pathways to experiencing greater stigma.

Effective prevention of intimate partner violence through couples training: a randomised controlled trial of in Rwanda.

Background: Between 2015 and 2018, three civil society organisations in Rwanda implemented , a four-part intervention designed to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) among couples and within communities. We assessed the impact of the programme's gender transformative curriculum for couples.

Methods: Sectors (n=28) were purposively selected based on density of village savings and loan association (VLSA) groups and randomised (with stratification by district) to either the full community-level programme (n=14) or VSLA-only control (n=14).

Rape survivors in South Africa: analysis of the baseline socio-demographic and health characteristics of a rape cohort.

Background: Little is known about women who have experienced a recent rape, and how they differ from women without this exposure. Identifying factors linked to rape is important for preventing rape and developing effective responses in countries like South Africa with high levels of sexual violence.

Objective: To describe the socio-demographic and health profile of women recently exposed to rape and to compare them with a non-rape-exposed group.

How do programmes to prevent intimate partner violence among the general population impact women with disabilities? Post-hoc analysis of three randomised controlled trials.

Introduction: Women with disabilities experience higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) than women without disabilities. There remains limited evidence about whether IPV prevention interventions for the general population have benefits for women with disabilities that compare to those for women without disabilities. Using data from IPV prevention randomised controlled trials in diverse locations (Rwanda, South Africa and Afghanistan), we assess whether outcomes differed by disability status.

Increase in HIV incidence in women exposed to rape.

Objective: To determine the incidence of HIV acquisition in women postrape compared with a cohort of women who had not been raped.

Design: A prospective cohort study.

Methods: The Rape Impact Cohort Evaluation study based in Durban, South Africa, enrolled women aged 16-40 years from postrape care services, and a control group of women from Primary Healthcare services.

Exploring intimate partner violence among pregnant Eswatini women seeking antenatal care: How agency and food security impact violence-related outcomes.

Women with agency (i.e. the ability to make choices and act on them) may experience reduced food insecurity (FI) and intimate partner violence (IPV).

Intimate partner violence among women with and without disabilities: a pooled analysis of baseline data from seven violence-prevention programmes.

Introduction: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious public health and human rights violation which impacts approximately one in three women worldwide. Some existing evidence suggests that women with disabilities are at higher risk of IPV, but is largely limited in geographical scope to the Global North, and comparison across settings has been hampered by inconsistent measurement of both IPV and disability.

Methods: Pooled analysis of baseline data from 8549 adult women participating in seven IPV prevention studies in five countries across Africa and Asia that used collaborative, comparative measurement strategies to assess both disability and IPV.

Exploring differential impacts of interventions to reduce and prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) on sub-groups of women and men: A case study using impact evaluations from Rwanda and South Africa.

Currently, most efforts to evaluate programmes designed to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) assume that they affect all people similarly. Understanding whether interventions are more or less effective for different subgroups of individuals, however, can yield important insights for programming. In this study, we conducted subgroup analyses to assess whether treatment effects vary by baseline reporting of IPV experience among women or perpetration among men.

Which men change in intimate partner violence prevention interventions? A trajectory analysis in Rwanda and South Africa.

Introduction: Emerging evidence suggests working with men to prevent intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration can be effective. However, it is unknown whether all men benefit equally, or whether different groups of men respond differentially to interventions.

Methods: We conducted trajectory modelling using longitudinal data from men enrolled in intervention arms of three IPV trials in South Africa and Rwanda to identify trajectories of IPV perpetration.

The prevalence, patterning and associations with depressive symptoms and self-rated health of emotional and economic intimate partner violence: a three-country population based study.

Background: Emotional and economic intimate partner violence (IPV) are common. There remain outstanding questions: 1) whether the patterning of emotional and economic IPV varies across contexts, and whether the current indicators adequately capture this variation; 2) whether simply binary or more complex modelling strategies are appropriate; 3) whether health impacts of emotional and economic IPV are sustained in population-based studies, across multiple settings.

Methods: Ever partnered women (18-49 years) in cross-sectional, population-based data from three countries, China, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Sri Lanka, from the United Nations Multi-country Study on Men and Violence in Asia and the Pacific.

What can we learn from studying control arms of randomised VAW prevention intervention evaluations: reflections on expected measurement error, meaningful change and the utility of RCTs.

: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) are a gold standard for evaluations in public health, economics and social sciences, including prevention of violence against women (VAW). They substantially reduce bias, but do not eliminate measurement error. Control arms often show change, but this is rarely systematically examined.